Maram means wood in Tamil, thus Marapachi bommai are dolls or playthings made out of wood. These hand carved dolls are made without palm or feet with a little ornamentation. An average dolls represents a human – male or female. However, there are also wooden dolls that look like Gods and Goddesses. In many states of Southern India, a pair of marapachi dolls are gifted to the bride during her marriage as a part of her trousseau. Here is a quick read on marapachi bommai and my Marapachi doll necklaces based on them.
Why are marapachi gifted during the wedding
In earlier times, people would be married in their pre-teens or early teens. I have heard many a story of the bride 5-7 years old playing with her dolls on the day of her marriage. Mostly, the child bride would stay with her parents until she is of the child bearing age and playing with the couple dolls allowed her to create scenarios of her future wedded life in her head. In communities where the bride was immediately sent to her husband’s home, the dolls provided solace. They were her companions in the new land, where she did not have anyone to talk to. During Navaratri Golu, the dolls would be dressed up and displayed and the collection added to year after year.
Then there are those communities where the groom’s sister would gift the bride varieties of dolls (including marapachi) and other sweetmeats. This was a way of fostering friendship between the two as they would be of the same age. This custom of presenting a “velaiyaadal thattu (a plate of playthings)” exists in Brahmin communities even today. These days, the dolls are typically replaced by cosmetics, gift boxes and even spa coupons. Baring this recent interlude, wood dolls still are a great alternative to glossy silicon or plastic dolls and make great gifts.
Why decorate the Marapachi dolls
The average marapachi doll of red sandalwood, has ornamentation carved on to it. Many families (including mine) keep them as is without decorating them with clothes or jewellery to show off of the wood work. But then there are those who decorate the dolls extensively. One myth of decorating revolves around how women wanted to preserve and showcase their wedding look in the pre-photography era and decorating the dolls was the apt way to do it.
Referred to as Pattade Gombe in Telugu, the dolls in human form are dressed to represent Gods as a tribute. Some dolls are dressed up to suit navaratri golu themes. Finally, there are those who do it for fun. What started of as as a Fad 10 years ago has slowly turned into a trend by itself. So much so that those who come across the dolls for the first time, assume that they are always dressed.
Marapachi doll necklaces
I made two Marapachi doll necklaces inspired by the silks and colours that are used to decorate the dolls. I created the illustration on photoshop. The first one, as seen above is in Orange and black. The second is yellow and cardamom green. I used silk thread beads, ribbon beads and flat silk rope to make both necklaces. The orange one is sold but the green one is available for sale.
To add on these Marapachi doll necklaces, I was planning to make one more with a mini doll, but time got away from me. I hope there are more waiting to be created in the time to come.
I hope you found it interesting
Cheers
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