The city of Channapatna, Karnataka is famous for its traditional toy manufacturing.

The traditional craft in the area is protected by geographical indication under the World Trade Organization.

A wide range of toys in the area are crafted from ivory wood, known locally as Aale mara, and vegetable dyes are used for the colouring.

Footage from December 11 shows a group of carpenters hand-crafting batches of the traditional toys.

Syed Asgar, who has been crafting these toys for about seven years, and Pratee Sherif, who has been crafting these for almost 20 years, have both stated they haven't experienced any side effects from using the paints and dyes.

Hadeer Pasha and Faisal Bha, who have been manufacturing and marketing the toys, explained that coronavirus left many carpenters without work but their business is now on the mend.

Wooden toys and dolls are manufactured in large numbers keeping the traditional craft protected by geographical indication under World Trade Organization (WTO) in Channapatna of Ramanagara district in Karnataka state of Southern India on December 11.

Many toys ranging from small size to big sized toys are made of Aale mara (ivory-wood) and most of the coloring of toys are organic and said to have no side-effects on children playing with the toys.

Vegetable dyes are used to ensure safety of the children who play with the toys and dolls.

The ruler Tipu Sultan had invited artisans from Persia to train local artisans in making wooden toys.

Few of the toys are handcrafted and few are manufactured using machines as base to create various designs using the wood.

There are hundreds of home manufacturing units wherein family members are involved in making of toys and dolls.

Few small factories were involved in toy making.

The main wood used for making these toys was ivory-wood, even rosewood and sandalwood was used in occasionally.

Artisans who craft the wood and paint them have not faced any health issues due to the wood dust or paints used stated one of the artist Mohammad Rashid.

Syed Asgar who has been crafting these toys for about seven years and Pratee Sherif who has been crafting these for almost 20 years now stated that there has been no side-effects on us.

Hadeer Pasha and Faisal Bhai who have been crafting and marketing the product’s to the sellers stated that since the novel Coronavirus pandemic many artisans were left stranded now the business has been growing a little bit now.

Many small artisans make toys and dolls at their houses and then send them over to the sellers.