Balaji Handicraft

balaji handicraft toy-making is a traditional craft in the varanasi district of uttar pradesh, india. bright and colourful lacquered toys are made by clusters of skilled craftsmen. these toys were given the geographical indication tag in 2014, along with other lacquer ware produced in this region. history :- according to the craftsmen, their ancestors specialised in ivory carving that enjoyed good patronage during the reign of the mughal emperors and the british. after ivory was banned by the government of india, they shifted to woodcarving. process of manufacture:- wooden logs are sourced from nearby areas such as the jungles of chitrakoot and sonbhadra.keria (coraiya) wood from bihar was used earlier and it is still the preferred type of wood for toy-making. but after the government banned the cutting of keria trees in the 1980s, the craftsmen switched to using the wood from eucalyptus, which is now used predominantly.[3] stacks of wooden logs can be seen stored outside the house