Wooden Toys of Varanasi
The most common wood used for toy-making are:
• 'Safeda' or Eucalyptus is used for lathe machine applications
• 'Kirbil' is used for hand carving.
• ‘Bhurkul’ or 'Gulhar' wood or Benjamina is used for light-weight toys.
• 'Shisham' or Dalbergia has yellowish white wood.
• 'Gulhar' has thick fibres, hence is used for not so intricate carvings.
• 'Kaima' has thin fibres, hence is used for fine carving.
• 'Bhokul' wood was used in the past, but its not available anymore.
Some of these woods are procured from following areas in Varanasi:
• ‘Gulhar’ from Chauka Ghat
• ‘Sagwan’ from Sonapura
• ‘Kaima’ from Badau
Some of the common tools used are:
Rukhana, Baaki, Chaursa, Batali, Berma (used for making hole), Basula (to peel off wood), Chausi- (to peel off), Aari (for sawing), Kholiyan (fine work tool), Reti (file for sanding).
