Channapatna

In Channapatna, it looks as if the residents have mutually agreed upon an eclectic colour scheme. This town in Southern India, well-known for its toy-making heritage, greets you with lines of colourful houses boasting beige walls, red doors and purple rooftops. The windows have wide ledges and open to catch the summer sun, which illuminates the traditional red floors often painted with kollam. Against the backdrop of the colourful houses and neatly laid-out lanes, one can hear the steady sound of craftspeople cutting away and moulding pieces of wood. The toys that result from the process are as colourful as the mood and material of Channapatna. Children play with these homemade, handmade toys and inherit their parents' traditions.. The artisans, hailing from different villages of Karnataka, work hard to shape their children’s future as they do with the edges of the toys they create. They work quietly and smile often.

To add shine to the wooden toys, artisans use lacquer which creates polish on the surface. The lacquer changes colours, from golden to a fiery red, and builds a beautiful colour scheme of the Channapatna universe. The toys change colours with the passing of time, just like memories do. The houses stand upright and strong amidst the changing hues of the landscape, reflecting the colours of the community and craft of this region. We catch the setting sun as we bid goodbye to this exquisite town. The toys and the craft sparkle with hope and possibilities, like the luminosity of lacquer toys in the lacklustre era of virtual games.