Marapachi Bommais

Marapachi Bommai literally translates to Wooden Dolls. These dolls are traditionally hand-carved from available wood by elders for their Kids or Grandchildren. The dolls are usually a family heirloom passed down to generations. Though these dolls are made by elders of the family, Tirupati is famous for its more ornate Marapachis due to the availability of Red Sandalwood from nearby forests and the craftsmen in the region.

These dolls are carved and then smeared with herbal oils to give them the sheen and let the wood soak and absorb the oil. Kids are given these dolls to play with as soon as they start teething. The medicinal properties of the wood and herb extract are absorbed by the kids when they try to chew on the doll and give them immunity.

Marapachis are also the first dolls used in Golu during the Navarathiri season. Slowly losing their significance, the dolls are mostly now a Collector's items.

Photography @phillips_antiques