These days children (adults too, of course) have just about one toy -- a cellphone. Or else something similarly electronic using a screen. Remember the toys one saw youngsters playing with, in the Golden Pre-Cellphone Era (PCE). They were so cheery and bright. Intriguing. Handcrafted, they offered a peek into India's regional artistry and folk traditions. Rewind and view 17 of these beauts...
Called different names in different languages, in Maharashtra miniature kitchen sets, made of brass or copper, are called bhatukali. They were devised to teach young girls household management through play.
Handcrafted, awfully cute wooden toys -- tops, train engines, puppets, dolls, clowns -- are made in the Channapatna, the toy town or Gombegala Ooru of Karnataka, since the days of Tipu Sultan and are known for their vibrant colors and lacquer finish. They are recognised as a Geographical Indication product (GI Number: 75).
Spinning tops called lattus -- known to be ubiquitous and were used in every part of the world since the beginning of time (including in Tutankhamun's tomb for him to use in his after life; he died at 18) -- they have been a favourite among Indian children for centuries. Other names: pambaram, bhawra, which are spun using a string, showcasing physics in play.
Rajasthan's gorgeous string puppets, crafted with colourful fabrics and intricate designs, are integral to folk performances, storytelling and more. GI Number: 177
Famous for their gentle bobbing motion, these terracotta dolls (GI Tag Number: 28) are weighted at the base allowing them wobble gracefully without toppling over.
Indian-style slingshots are a simple yet popular outdoor toy made from wood, leather and rubber, that little boys have always used to shoot pebbles, not always kindly.
Characterised by bold lines and vivid hues, dolls carved from mango, gamhar or shimul wood were made by the stone carvers of Natungram, West Bengal, who received the patronage of the Bardhaman rajas. They portray owls, deities, and symbols of prosperity.
Carved from a lightweight, soft wood called tilla poniki, joined together with sawdust-tamarind seed glue and painted in gaudy colours, here is another traditional toy art (GI Number: 59) from a town outside Vijaywada, in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh --they showcase scenes of rural life, mythology, folklore. The craft has endured for 400 years.
A small two-headed drum connected with Lord Shiva and tantric traditions, their miniature versions are made for kids and it's played by twisting the wrist, causing the attached beads to strike the drumheads rhythmically.
Originating from this tiny village in Assam, in Dhubri, close to the Brahmaputra and the West Bengal border, it is a huge centre for terracotta pottery made by the Paul community. The designs are unique like the hatima putul (elephant-eared mother figure).
The ancient mancala game, played in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, uses a wooden board with pits and seeds or shells. Enhances mathematical and strategic thinking.
A royal game invented in India as early as 1100 BC and known to the world as Parcheesi and in India as Ludo, it is an age-old strategy game played on a cross-shaped board with cowrie shells.
Wooden laquered toys, GI-tagged, are also made in Varanasi of animals, musicians, dancers. It began as an ivory-carving craft and then shifted to keria and then to eucalyptus, because the government banned the usage of the earlier materials. Created without joints it highlights exceptional craftsmanship.
Desi rattles are rather cute but not baby safe/proof and more ideal for kid fun or for moms entertain and soothe babies, as they have for aeons in Indian households with these toys made from wood, clay or metal.
Bet you can hear their irritating noise in your head as you read this... Sold at every festival mela, kids adore them. Also called, erm, noisemakers, their ear-splitting sound is famous and hundreds of children will be walking the streets tooting these colourful horns and these fairs.
A classic hand-held puzzle, where players guide a small metal ball through a circular labyrinth, it tests coordination, patience, and spatial skills, making it a special toy for babies from 1 through 90.
At one time you would often pass little village boys chasing a metal cycle tyre rim or a rubber tyre -- that quintessential Indian amuser -- down dusty paths using a metal stick. No more. Or not often. But what a toy it was!