“There are several similarities between the Navarathri celebrated in India and the doll festival in our country,” said Masanori Nakano, Consul-General, Japanese Consulate in Chennai.
“Like in India, our dolls are also arranged on steps and the festival is celebrated on the importance of girls.”
Similar to kolu, girls display Hina-ningyo (special dolls for Hinamatsuri) on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. “In those days, the monarchy held the pride of place in Japan and, hence, at the top are the idols of the emperor and empress,” Krishnaswamy said. “Even today, monarchy is a respected symbol in Japan,” he added.
Illustrating the social hierarchy that existed in a by-gone era, the next steps display the war lords and their families, the court ladies (sannin-kanjo), followed by members of the trading class. The bottom tiers display intricately-carved wooden pieces of furniture, chests and other household objects.
There are also Koinobori or fish-shaped streamers hanging down from the ceiling. “The Koinobori is hung in every home in Japan during the boy’s festival and symbolise courage and strength,” Suguna Ramamurthy, secretary-general, IJCC, said.
Another striking feature resembling an Indian custom is a set of Dharma or Japanese painted pumpkin dolls used to ward off evil. While in India, real pumpkins are painted and used in ground-breaking and other ceremonies, the Japanese made dolls, shaped like vegetables, and painted faces on them. Tradition has it that a Buddhist monk, who studied in ancient Kancheepuram, took the practice along with him, first to China and then to Japan, she added.
A miniature Shinto temple, Hiroshima memorial, Bonsai plants, Yukata (men’s robe) and Kokashi dolls, similar to the Kondapalli wooden toys, are also on display.
The doll festival, which is being held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Japanese diplomatic relations, is open until Friday between 10.30 am and 6 pm on IJCC premises on K B Dasan Road in Teynampet.
“Like in India, our dolls are also arranged on steps and the festival is celebrated on the importance of girls.”
Similar to kolu, girls display Hina-ningyo (special dolls for Hinamatsuri) on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. “In those days, the monarchy held the pride of place in Japan and, hence, at the top are the idols of the emperor and empress,” Krishnaswamy said. “Even today, monarchy is a respected symbol in Japan,” he added.
Illustrating the social hierarchy that existed in a by-gone era, the next steps display the war lords and their families, the court ladies (sannin-kanjo), followed by members of the trading class. The bottom tiers display intricately-carved wooden pieces of furniture, chests and other household objects.Another striking feature resembling an Indian custom is a set of Dharma or Japanese painted pumpkin dolls used to ward off evil. While in India, real pumpkins are painted and used in ground-breaking and other ceremonies, the Japanese made dolls, shaped like vegetables, and painted faces on them. Tradition has it that a Buddhist monk, who studied in ancient Kancheepuram, took the practice along with him, first to China and then to Japan, she added.
A miniature Shinto temple, Hiroshima memorial, Bonsai plants, Yukata (men’s robe) and Kokashi dolls, similar to the Kondapalli wooden toys, are also on display.
The doll festival, which is being held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Japanese diplomatic relations, is open until Friday between 10.30 am and 6 pm on IJCC premises on K B Dasan Road in Teynampet.
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