Papier mache bobble-head dolls (thalaiyatti bommai) on sale in Thanjavur.
| Photo Credit: R. Vengadesh
Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation will soon establish a Craft Tourism Village to display various traditional handicraft products of Thanjavur.The Craft Tourism Village will be established at a cost of ₹10 crore exclusively to display ancient and traditional handicrafts in Thanjavur to develop the handicrafts industry, attract tourists and provide marketing linkages, Minister for MSMEs P. Mathan Raja announced in the Assembly during the department grants on September 1.The crafts village will display famous handicrafts, including metal sculptures, Nachiyarkovil lamps, Thanjavur paintings, art plates and netti works, rolling and dancing dolls and Karuppur Kalamkari, of Thanjavur and neighbouring places. It will be established at a prominent place with an attractive entrance arch, workshops and allied infrastructure, he said.Artisans engaged in making various handicrafts in Thanjavur region have largely welcomed the move saying such a facility is much-needed to give a boost to cottage and small industries.“It will indeed be beneficial if all handicrafts of the region, especially those with Geographical Indication (GI)-tags, are made available under a single roof. Tourists may not have time to visit all places to see the handicrafts. The craft village should be located at a vantage place to attract tourists,” said S. Boopathy, 63, a Thanjavur dancing doll maker.The village should also have facilities to train youth in the handicrafts. “If marketing opportunities are available, the crafts can be lucrative for youths,” felt Mr. Bhoopathy, a fourth generation craftsman, pointing out though his son had learnt the art and even won an award, he was educated and looking for a job.Echoing his views, S. Balamurugan, 52, a third generation artisan engaged in making Thanjavur dancing dolls, said: “It will be good to have a single marketing hub for the various handicrafts made in Thanjavur region. Besides displaying handicrafts products, the village should also feature food and beverage outlets so that tourists can relax and go around the village in a leisurely manner. The village should also have facilities for demonstration of the manufacturing processes so that people/tourists appreciate the value and workmanship involved in the handicrafts.”Observing that it would be a good initiative to make available different handicrafts under a single umbrella, V. Ramesh, 46, an art plate craftsman, said tourists bought handicrafts mainly from shops in Thanjavur Big Temple, Poompuhar Emporium or Thanjavur Palace. Very little is known about the handicrafts available at other places in the town and elsewhere.Some of the art forms are dying with the number of families engaged in their manufacture dwindling. “I followed my father’s footsteps but not many youth are entering the field. If there are better marketing opportunities, youngsters will show interest in taking up the craft,” he added. Published - September 03, 2026 05:05 pm IST
