Andhra Pradesh has been honoured in the Republic Day celebrations to be held in Delhi on January 26. This time, the Etikoppaka wooden toys tableau has been selected from the state for the Republic Day parade. The officials have designed this Sakatam (tableau) to reflect the traditions of the Telugu people. This tableau has a traditionally handmade wooden idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy that is sure to impress everyone. It also contains figurines related to Lord Ganapathi, Haridasu, Bommala-koluvu, and various children toys.

GI Tag for Etikoppaka Toys

After Kondapalli, Etikoppaka wooden dolls are also very famous in Andhra Pradesh. Etikoppaka is located about 64 kilometers from Visakhapatnam in North Andhra region. In this village, located on the banks of the Varaha River, many families have kept making wooden toys as a tradition and a source of livelihood for generations. The toy-making tradition in Etikoppaka is believed to have originated in the early 1800s from the nearby village of Nakkapalli.

Natural Dyes Give Great Look

Etikoppaka artisans have a decades of history of creating beautiful and colourful wooden toys. They create natural dye from seeds, lacquer, bark, and leaves to colour toys. They make toys out of Ankudu wood (scientific name: Wrightia Tinctoria), which is lightweight and easy to chop and chisel.

The wooden toys here, known as Etikoppaka Bommalu, have become very famous worldwide. Wooden toys are exported to foreign countries. The unique craftsmanship and cultural significance of Etikoppaka toys earned them a GI tag, which recognizes their origin and authenticity.

PM Modi Mentioned in Mann Ki Baat

In the past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for the promotion of domestically made dolls. Modi mentioned the Kondapalli and Etikoppaka toys topic in the Mann Ki Baat program held in the last week of August 2020. These wooden dolls are not harmful to the environment. Therefore, many celebrities are encouraging the artists here. The Prime Minister also mentioned this issue.