Nirmal Toys: 400-Year-Old Artistry Thrives with Tamarind Seeds and Poniki Wood

• Nirmal toys from Telangana are renowned for their lightweight, vibrant colors, and 400-year-old legacy, once favored by Nizams and Kakatiya kings.
• They are crafted from 'Poniki wood', a soft, lightweight local wood that hardens like stone after drying, allowing intricate carving of birds, animals, and mythological figures.
• A special paste called 'Laipo', made from tamarind seed powder and sawdust, is used to fill cracks and give the toys a smooth, glass-like finish.
• Natural colors derived from minerals, herbs, and gum, along with lacquer, provide a centuries-long luster, with medicinal mixtures used for golden hues, making them eco-friendly and safe.
• Despite challenges from plastic toys and Poniki wood scarcity, the Nakash community's art, with its GI tag, continues to gain global recognition.

Why It Matters: Nirmal toys represent a 400-year-old art form from Telangana, using unique wood, natural colors, and tamarind seed paste, now gaining global recognition.