Doll Making

Karnataka is located in the southern part of the Indian Peninsula and is known to the world as a seat of traditional Indian art and craft which includes the peculiar art of doll making. The art is unique in its style and presentation. It is a characteristic feature of the Indian craftsmen, especially of those belonging to the state of Karnataka, that they can turn the simple day to day articles into marvelous objects of art.

Doll making of Karnataka takes up speed as the days of Dusshera approaches. It is the time when the dolls are evenly arranged on wooden platforms, decorated and displayed. The festival marks a nine day long exhibition of those dolls. If you ever go to the state of Karnataka during this festival you will find the people are ecstatic, colorful and in a real festive mood. The craftsmen from the interior villages in the state are seen busy selling their explicit creations. The craft of doll making is indigenous and often involves all the generations together. It is a memorable sight in a Karnataka village that even the small children are busy in making dolls with their parents and grandparents.

The regions of Kinnal and Gokak in north Karnataka and Channapatna on the Bangaluru are famous for doll making. It has taken a form of small scale handicraft industry in these areas. The people are quite occupied with the craft and to most of them, doll making is the source of bread and butter.

Doll making in Karnataka includes the art of making puppet. You will find many wood artisans as well as painters making a variety of puppets. Apart from the wooden puppets, Karnataka also makes leather puppets which are more popular.