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Design Resource
Wooden Idol - Varanasi
Hand Carved Idols
by
Products
Varanasi being a pilgrimage Centre, the toys mostly represent deities from Hindu mythology. Some toys like child Krishna flying on the very huge bird, ducks, cows, horses, wooden sugga (Parrot) and charkha (spinning wheel) are fixed on the marriage mandap (altar). Mandwakasugga is gifted to the newly married. Craftsmen in Varanasi switched to wood and stone since the ban on ivory and have continued to carve wood with equal intricacy.
Toys and idols of gods and goddesses are prepared by cutting, peeling and shaping the wood with knives and other equipment. The colours used to paint toys are bright and usually applied in primary colours. The ceremonial parrot is painted with turmeric (yellow), Alta (red) and green colour. The tools are a carpenter’s tools a saw and a chisel for working on the wood. The idols can be found in all sizes, from 1-inch idols to large 2 feet tall idols.
• Lord Ganesh on flying peacock
• Flying Hanuman
• God and goddess idols
• Birds
• One inch Ganesh idol
• Musicians
• Elephants
• Lord Krishna idol
