DOLLS, PLAY AND CULTURE

I was recently reading a story told by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

- VINITA SIDHARTHA

The story was about a doll made of salt. This salt doll was rather adventurous and travelled to many places and learned about many ideas and concepts from around the world. In the course of its extensive travels, the doll arrived on the seashore. Watching the surging sea and the crashing waves, the doll's curiosity was piqued.

"What are you?" it asked the sea. "Come in and see," replied the sea. So, the salt doll waded in, and the deeper she went, the more she dissolved until at last she became one with the sea and understood everything about the sea. This story got me thinking. Much like the doll was used to help us understand how important it is to immerse ourselves completely to learn the true nature of things, many of our festivals and our rituals use this element of play and games. And one such fascination is with dolls.