Exquisite miniatures

THE `KOLU Dolls Exhibition' at Poompuhar celebrates Navarathri with a captivating collection. The hall is filled with vibrantly- hued, imaginatively crafted, papier mache dolls, gods and goddesses, mythological scenes such as `Sita Kalyanam' and even a cricket match. It is a mingling of robust innovation and traditional creativity for which the Indian craftsperson is so famous. The colours are bright and the mood is festive. One can pick up anything from a papier mache bird of Paradise to themes celebrating episodes from the Mahabharata or a big sized Venkateswara, Hanuman, Shiva-Parvati and so on.

For the connoisseur of Indian dolls, the exhibition-cum-sale has showcased a brilliant collection of West Bengal's Krishnanagar dolls. Made out of a special clay found on the banks of the Ganga, each of the exquisitely crafted Krishnanagar toys is a collector's item. Done with exquisite detailing down to the floral `lehnga' of a Rajasthani woman, a Sikh Warrior's turban, a Bengali brahmin's `dhoti' and kamandal, or a Tamil flower- seller's colourful costume, Krishnanagar's toy makers have elevated doll making to a fine, sensitive art.

The collection includes exquisitely crafted clay potters, weavers, snake charmers and monkey men, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian, women doing `puja', cooking, and so on. From finely chiselled facial features to regional costumes, jewellery and hairstyle, each miniature Krishnanagar doll celebrates the best in India's toy making traditions.

Also on view at Poompuhar is a fine collection of prettily painted marble dust toys. The laughing Buddha set is as fine as Chinese porcelain and an indication of the innovative skills of Indian craftspersons in working with new mediums. And lending a touch of delicate craftsmanship are Kashmir's painted and pretty papier mache birds.

There are realistic looking wax fruits that would add a touch of colour to kolu arrangements. Among the fruits are parrot-green pears, luscious grapes, golden mangoes and a range of bananas that look good enough to eat!

Poompuhar's eclectic `Kolu Dolls Exhibition', currently on at their premises, Anna Salai, is open till October 24.

PUSHPA CHARI

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