Etikoppaka toys (Etikoppaka Bommalu) is an art of making wooden traditional toys. These traditional toys are made by artisans in Etikoppaka village located on the banks of the river Varaha in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh state.
The art of making Etikoppaka toys, dolls, home decor and figurines are more than 400 years old and it is been traditionally handed over to them by their ancestors through generations. The art is also known as wood lacquer craft.
The GIR (Geographical Indication Registry) has given GI (Geographical indication) tag. GI is a sign used on certain products which correspond to specific geographic origin, quality and reputation.
Etikoppaka toys, dolls and figurines are unique in shape and form and are used for playing and home decoratives. They are made of softwood derived from Wrightia tinctoria (Ankudu Karra). The toys are painted with natural dyes prepared from seeds, lacquer, bark, roots and leaves. The dyes are unique and do not have any heavy metal or toxic content in it. This makes it totally hazard free and environmental friendly for kids to play rather than the cheap plastics with a high amount of lead. Recent studies by WHO(World Health Organisation) have proved cheap plastic products contain high traces of lead leading to various health ailments in kids.
The rural women SHGs (Self Help Groups) under the state government DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) supported by SERP-AP (Society for Elimination Of Rural Poverty) are into making of Etikoppaka toys. Kalgudi in collaboration with SERP-AP brought their products online @Kalgudi.com.The collections includes toys, figurines, hair accessories, home decor. These GI tagged products are now made available to all geographical locations. The plastic toys with heavy metals are hazardous as they contain, cadmium (plastic stabilizer), lead (heavy metal-carcinogenic) and many more hazardous chemicals. Let us all minimize the usage of plastic toys and start using wooden toys thereby uplifting the livelihood of rural women.
Visit: www.kalgudi.com
1 comment:
Very good eco-friendlly product for your small children and decoration of homes.
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