Crafting Wooden Tradition : लाकडी माटोळी | Chavath | Ganesh Chaturthi | 020924

Sawantwadi is famous for its wooden toys, especially the Chitarali—detailed wooden fruits, vegetables, & other lifelike items. These wooden pieces are popular in Goa during Ganesh Chaturthi, where newly married women traditionally receive a set of wooden items along with other things called 'Vajen' in their first year of marriage from their mother’s family. This set contains items like wooden fruits, vegetables & sweets. The hand-painted wooden Paat with a green parrot design is the speciality and iconic item made in Sawantwadi & widely sold in Goa. While fewer people are working in this traditional craft today, it continues to be a valued tradition. Our curiosity in the years long tradition items took us to Sawantwadi. Here we spoke to a craftman Dayanand Dhuri, from Kolgaon in Sawantwadi, & discovered the hard work that goes into creating these wooden wonders. #WoodenMatoli #GoaTradition #WoodenFruits #WoodenVegetables #GaneshChaturthi #Festival