Thatta Kedona Dolls Shop
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Labels: Dolls, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:30 AM,
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Celebrating Punjab's Rich Heritage
Friday, April 18, 2025
The Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore recently hosted a three-day Punjab Culture Day celebration, and Thatta Kedona was proud to represent the Sahiwal Arts Council and Sahiwal Division. The event, held from April 17 to 19, showcased the rich cultural heritage of Punjab, featuring traditional music, art, and folk traditions.
Thatta Kedona's stall was a highlight of the event, featuring an array of vibrant handicrafts that showcased the region's unique craftsmanship. The stall's centerpiece was the exquisite handmade ethnic Pakistani dolls, which were a testament to the skill and creativity of local artisans.
The event was honored by a visit from Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, who was impressed by Thatta Kedona's handicrafts. She particularly appreciated the handmade and unique dolls and crafts on display, praising the organization's efforts to promote Punjab's cultural heritage. Provincial Minister Azma Bukhari also visited Thatta Kedona stall.
The Punjab Culture Day celebration is an important event that promotes the region's rich cultural heritage and provides a platform for local artisans to showcase their skills. Thatta Kedona's participation in the event highlights its commitment to preserving and promoting Punjab's cultural identity.
Labels: Dolls, Handicrafts, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:59 AM,
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Culture thrives even in little and nothing
Monday, March 24, 2025
Labels: DGFK Berlin, Dolls
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:39 AM,
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Duhla From Punjab
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Read more »
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:16 AM,
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Thatta Kedona on Samaa TV
Monday, March 10, 2025
On March 8, Samaa TV, Pakistan's private news channel, aired a video report honoring the amazing women artisans in our hamlet, Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, in District Okara, Pakistan, in honor of International Women's Day. These women and girls produce beautiful handicrafts, such as ethnic dolls, that symbolize many parts of Pakistan under the auspices of Thatta Kedona. Dr. Senta Siller, a German anthropologist and designer, started this project over thirty years ago.
Click here to watch.
Labels: Dolls, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:45 AM,
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پاکستان میں ’گڑیاؤں کے گاؤں‘ کی ملکہ، جرمن ڈاکٹر سینتا سلر
Friday, May 4, 2018
جرمن خاتون ڈاکٹر سینتا سلر پیشے کے اعتبار سے ڈیزائنر ہونے کے ناطے پاکستانی خواتین کے کشیدہ کاری اور دستکاری جیسے ہنر کی قدر دان ہیں۔ پاکستانی صوبہ پنجاب کے ضلع اوکاڑہ میں دریائے راوی کے بائیں کنارے پر واقع ’ٹھٹہ غلام کا دھیروکا‘ نامی ایک گاؤں میں جاری پاک جرمن ترقیاتی منصوبے میں جرمن خاتون ڈاکٹر سینتا سلر کا مرکزی کردار ہے۔ عرفان آفتاب کی خصوصی رپورٹ۔
Labels: Dolls, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:07 AM,
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Dolls, Toys and More
Friday, March 3, 2017
"Dolls, Toys and More" was launched on April 28, 2012. Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Senior Expert DGFK, Germany presented a copy of Dolls Toys and More to Dr. Azam Chaudhry, the Dean, Lahore School of Economics. Dr. Norbert also apprised Dr. Azam Chaudhry of what has been happening in the village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – commonly called Dolls Village - over last two decades.
"Dolls, Toys and More" is a story of two decades of work by NGO in a village called Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – some 80 kilometres from Lahore and on the bank of River Ravi. How change has come in the village?
Countless volunteers from Germany, Pakistan and also from other parts of the world have worked in the Village Project. The book gives an overview of the Project in detail as well as the description of local travel attractions. The travelogues section describes all places of interest in and around the areas, which will form a broader and touristy impression about the location to the reader as well as the interested tourists.
The life in the village is definitely interesting from the point of view of any urban visitor, but this topic may be discussed separately. An idea can be obtained however by reading the three short stories included in the book. The books also points out to the concept of Mud Housing and the Appropriate Technology and how they are being developed and used in the village.
What was conceived and founded by Dr Senta Siller has surely come of age. The book would not have been possible without the input and huge amount of work by Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller and many others.
Dolls The book ISBN 978-969-0-02411-7 is available at Ferozsons Pakistan and other leading book stores.
"Dolls, Toys and More" is a story of two decades of work by NGO in a village called Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka – some 80 kilometres from Lahore and on the bank of River Ravi. How change has come in the village?
Countless volunteers from Germany, Pakistan and also from other parts of the world have worked in the Village Project. The book gives an overview of the Project in detail as well as the description of local travel attractions. The travelogues section describes all places of interest in and around the areas, which will form a broader and touristy impression about the location to the reader as well as the interested tourists.
The life in the village is definitely interesting from the point of view of any urban visitor, but this topic may be discussed separately. An idea can be obtained however by reading the three short stories included in the book. The books also points out to the concept of Mud Housing and the Appropriate Technology and how they are being developed and used in the village.
What was conceived and founded by Dr Senta Siller has surely come of age. The book would not have been possible without the input and huge amount of work by Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller and many others.
Dolls The book ISBN 978-969-0-02411-7 is available at Ferozsons Pakistan and other leading book stores.
Labels: Books, Dolls, Dolls Toys and More, Handicrafts
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:00 AM,
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The Bride
Sunday, January 31, 2016
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:00 AM,
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Doll-making event aims to teach children about heritage
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
By ASMA KUNDI — in Dawn
Handmade dolls on display at Lok Virsa on Tuesday. In the other picture, dollmakers at work. — Photos by Tanveer Shahzad
ISLAMABAD: When her teacher said the class will be attending a doll-making workshop, 14-year-old Rohi Pervez from Government Model School was very excited.
“I love handmade dolls in traditional dresses and jewellery. Now I can make one for my little sister as well,” a very happy Rohi beamed while attending the first day of a week-long doll making event at Lok Virsa on Tuesday.
To promote Pakistan’s traditional skills and heritage and to raise awareness about them among the youth, Lok Virsa is holding a series of programmes titled ‘Craft of the Month’ where one craft is focused on every month.
After truck art and pottery making, this month Lok Virsa hosted the opening ceremony of a workshop titled ‘Doll Making: Engagement with Artisans’.
Four doll makers from Okara, Chakwal and Islamabad are displaying their mastery of the art at the event.
They put on colourful displays of their dolls, decoration pieces and tiny doll dresses that they had made earlier and taught children how to hand make dolls and how to fashion traditional, Pakistani dresses for them. All the dolls were made from local material.
Handmade dolls on display at Lok Virsa on Tuesday. In the other picture, dollmakers at work. — Photos by Tanveer Shahzad
One doll maker, Hafiza Begum from Chakwal, told Dawn that she had been making dolls for some 14 years.
“People don’t buy handmade dolls a lot; they prefer mass produced, plastic dolls which cost more. However, foreigners like our work and buy handmade dolls at exhibitions and whenever they visit.”
Some 40 children from different schools administered by the Federal Directorate of Education attended the event. The Directorate General for Special Education also nominated a group of 12 special children to learn the art of doll making.
Students huddled around the doll makers and tried to learn the art. They picked out the fabrics they would use and had a wide selection of colourful threads to choose from. The boys were just as excited about the workshop as were the little girls.
One student, Mohammad Sami Khan, was particularly good at learning how to make dolls and even helped his friends along.
Eyes shining with excitement, little Sami said: “People think only girls like dolls, but I am enjoying this so much. Doll making is so interesting.”
A teacher accompanying the students, Rehana Younus, said: “The children are very excited and happy and are hanging on to every word of the doll makers.”
To give the children a more realistic taste of village life, a folk band performed at the event. The band sang national songs and Qawwalis.
Students of Islamabad Model School for Girls performed a show themed around cultural diversity in which they put on dances from all the provinces.
Talking to Dawn, Lok Virsa’s Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said the programme was initiated so children would be more aware of their roots and traditions.
Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Barrister Usman Ibrahim, who was the chief guest, appreciated Lok Virsa’s efforts towards preserving the heritage and engaging children in the process.
He said: “Events like this will create an interest among children about their traditions and culture.”
Renowned artist and puppeteer Farooq Qaiser also attended the opening ceremony. He said: “Doll making is one of the oldest and most popular forms of art in Pakistan. It started off with clay dolls and now we have ones made from fiber glass. Dolls were our friends when we were kids and these handmade ones also portray our culture and traditions.”
Labels: Doll Makers, Dolls, Dolls of the World, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:45 AM,
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Cultural skill: Carrying forward the tradition of doll making
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Appeared in Express Tribune
ISLAMABAD: A week-long doll making workshop for children kicked off at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) on Tuesday.
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| Some 45 school students are attending the workshop. PHOTOS: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS, LOK VIRSA |
Themed “harnessing culture with education”, the workshop is a joint venture of Lok Virsa, Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and the Directorate General of Special Education. It aims to create a linkage between folk crafts and education, especially among young students.
Puppeteer and Lok Virsa board member Farooq Qaiser, in his welcome speech, said one of the main agenda of such an initiative is to promote and transfer cultural skills on to the next generation. Qaiser said dolls keep children company and entertain them when they are alone.
“Doll making is an indication of innocence, friendship and honesty and one of the best elements of our culture. This craft should not be forgotten. It should be encouraged as much as possible,” Qaiser said.
Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim, who inaugurated the workshop, lauded Lok Virsa’s initiatives for promoting folk crafts and culture.
He said the public-sector education institutes have outperformed the private one in Islamabad. He lauded the workshop which he said would familiarise students with tradition and called for more such programmes.
Islamabad Model School for Girls G -6/1 Principal Ghazala Yasmin said such activities serve as a catalyst for creativity and help in flourishing a healthy mindset. She said the workshop would inspire students and help them pick up productive activities.
Some 45 students from various schools in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are attending the workshop, which concludes on November 15.
Other craft workshops in the pipeline are truck art, pottery marking, weaving, block printing, stone carving, lacquer art and wax painting.
Labels: Doll Makers, Dolls, Dolls of the World, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:00 AM,
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Doll-making workshop kicks off
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Appeared in Daily The Nation
Islamabad - Seven-day traditional doll-making workshop kicked off yesterday, involving young craft persons to learn this art directly from masters in the field at National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa.
As many as 45 students from various educational institutions of twin cities participated in the workshop while five traditional female doll-makers from different parts of the country, would impart the training and share their master-skills through demonstration of their artisanship. The participants will learn to make ethnic dolls, dressed up in the traditional costumes to highlight Pakistan’s folk culture and its living traditions, practiced by a dominant majority of its people.
The workshop is part of Lok Virsa’s on-going series `Craft of the Month’ organized by Lok Virsa in collaboration with Federal Directorate of Education and Directorate General for Special Education.
Barrister Usman Ibrahim, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CAAD) inaugurated the workshop and appreciated the contribution of Lok Virsa in creating a linkage between culture and education.
He said “Children are our future and we must prepare them for a better Pakistan. The way Lok Virsa is creating awareness among them is praiseworthy.” The minister assured full cooperation on the part of his ministry for the successful holding of the on-going series of the programme by Lok Virsa.
Renowned puppeteer and member of Lok Virsa Board of Governors, Farooq Qaiser informed that the major objective of Lok Virsa is the promotion of Pakistani culture and its transfer to the next generations.
The ongoing craft of the month series aims at promoting traditional skills, giving knowledge to younger generation about the importance and utility of different crafts and providing opportunity to youth to learn about Pakistan’s rich, diverse and pluralistic cultural tapestry.
It also encourages youth to value dignity of labour, foster ownership for their culture, create respect for different professions and character building. It helps understand the contribution of artisans in the sustainable development of their community and country at large, he added.
The Heritage Museum highlights one craft for a week every month and have artisans and experts available for children to engage and learn from them. These craft-persons not only display their crafts but also make them in front of the people. This will give a hand on opportunity to become familiar with the folk crafts.
“This is an experiment of sowing the seeds of pluralistic society in our younger generation. A generation that, we hope, will take care of our country in future and make it into a truly pluralistic society where people of all cultures, languages and traditions living in Pakistan will fully own each other as valued Pakistani citizens,” he added.
Labels: Dolls, Dolls Makers, Dolls of the World, Lok Virsa, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:34 AM,
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Lok Virsa Week
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Lok Virsa is planning a special event on Dolls Making with AFA (NGO from Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka aka Dolls Village).
Lok Virsa has planned special events over a week from November 9 to November 15, 2015. Best thing is that you will be able to participate. Here are the details:
Read more »Labels: Doll Makers, Dolls, Lok Virsa
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:50 AM,
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Churail in Dolls Village
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The lives of the residents of this village changed 15 years when a German art teacher took up her student Amjad's invite and visited his village: Thatta Ghulam da Dheroka.
An enterprising spirit, she asked the villagers about their craft. The women showed her hand-made rag dolls. The art teacher, Dr Senta Siller, told the villagers she could teach them to make refined hand-made dolls.
Thus spun off a social enterprise in this 200-house strong village that has changed the way of life and living here. Women have a school. The village has a road. They experimented with alternative energy very early on, and now are undertaking community energy & food projects.
The women from this conservative village now go on study tours with the Germans. The villagers have learned about sanitation, childcare, and eco-friendly living. Cleanliness is rewarded here.
Above all, these changes were brought within the system, without breaking down the structure violently.
The whole village participates in the making of the dolls, which represent the four provinces of Pakistan. The original doll is called, "Churail."
This is my peek into their lives. More here!
An enterprising spirit, she asked the villagers about their craft. The women showed her hand-made rag dolls. The art teacher, Dr Senta Siller, told the villagers she could teach them to make refined hand-made dolls.
Thus spun off a social enterprise in this 200-house strong village that has changed the way of life and living here. Women have a school. The village has a road. They experimented with alternative energy very early on, and now are undertaking community energy & food projects.
The women from this conservative village now go on study tours with the Germans. The villagers have learned about sanitation, childcare, and eco-friendly living. Cleanliness is rewarded here.
Above all, these changes were brought within the system, without breaking down the structure violently.
The whole village participates in the making of the dolls, which represent the four provinces of Pakistan. The original doll is called, "Churail."
This is my peek into their lives. More here!
Labels: Dolls, Dolls Village, Dr Gwendolyne Kulick
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:15 AM,
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Round the World
Thursday, December 4, 2014
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:00 AM,
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Volunteers Meet at Dolls of the World Exhibition
Monday, July 7, 2014
Dolls of the World from different projects are creating waves in Germany these days. Dolls were displayed for a six weeks in an exhibition held in Cooperative Loan Bank in Potsdam, Germany.
The Exhibition offered an opportunities for city government to get some real good ideas, Questions and Answers sessions enables people with special interest (perhaps coming volunteers) to know about the projects from far and wide of the world and best of all, the exhibition was a meeting point for old and new volunteers. Dr. Senta Siller, Gertrud Baier, Dr. Karola Groch, Renate Perner, Sabine Piltz were seen among those who visited the exposition. Some glimpses from a week long activity:
Read more »The Exhibition offered an opportunities for city government to get some real good ideas, Questions and Answers sessions enables people with special interest (perhaps coming volunteers) to know about the projects from far and wide of the world and best of all, the exhibition was a meeting point for old and new volunteers. Dr. Senta Siller, Gertrud Baier, Dr. Karola Groch, Renate Perner, Sabine Piltz were seen among those who visited the exposition. Some glimpses from a week long activity:
Labels: Dolls, Dolls of the World, Dr Karola Groch, Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Dr. Senta Siller
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:28 AM,
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Thatta Kedona at BBC
Monday, February 17, 2014
Listen Arjum Wajid from (BBC World Service) Interview; Download.
Labels: Dolls, Dolls of the World, Dr. Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:31 AM,
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Project - Arabic
Saturday, January 4, 2014
{Arabic Text - Click image to enlarge}Labels: Dolls
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:10 AM,
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Making dolls
Monday, July 29, 2013
Read more »
Labels: Dolls, Dolls Makers, Dolls of the World
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:57 AM,
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Dolls of the world
Monday, June 3, 2013
Labels: Dolls
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:00 AM,
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Thatta Kedona Dolls
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Thatta Kedona Dolls. Go meet them.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:36 AM,
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