Kanyaputri Dolls
Kanyaputri Dolls (also referred as Gudia) are a type of Bihar's Handcrafted doll, popular in India, especially in the Champaran district of Bihar state made of waste clothes material.These toys are traditionally handmade,and finished with detailed. The art of making kanyaputri dolls is an age-old practice in Champaran, Bihar and Kanyaputri dolls are especially culturally relevant, associated directly with the belief of love between Brother and Sister.
History
The tradition of Kanyaputri artists once thrived in every household in the Champaran Districts. In the month of Saavan (monsoon), sisters make dolls for their brothers and dip them in the pond and brother brings these dolls back. After that, sisters and brothers eat sweets and show their bond of love.However, with the passage of time, both the art and its practitioners have gradually faded into obscurity.
Revive of Kanyaputri Doll
Namita Azzad (art -teacher and entrepreneur ) has brought back kanyaputri art in society again with her passion, and support of Ranjan Mistry, Indian Social Entrepreneur. This art was becoming extinct as it was replaced by plastics. But it has been reinstated as organic. So this art in itself has come back with many important objectives, including protecting nature, saving folk culture, and employing more and more women in folk-culture-related jobs.
Namita Azad is the only Kanyaputri Artist in Bihar, and has been awarded Bihar Handcraft State Award for Kanyaputri Dolls Art in 2023 by the Industry Department, Government of Bihar.
