Traditional Folk Paper Toy Workshop by Manish Kumar

India’s rich tradition and culture are deeply interwoven with its trades and folklore. The topics, forms, and styles of Indian folk art are diverse and vibrant, each carrying stories passed down through generations. These folk forms have also played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s classical art traditions.

To keep these traditions alive and inspire the younger generation, the Bougainvillea Art Foundation (BAF) organizes various folk art workshops throughout the year—ranging from Madhubani painting to traditional Indian paper toy–making. Our country’s artisans continue to nurture this legacy through puppetry, painting, carving, fabric dyeing, and many other crafts.

BAF is deeply committed to preserving Indian traditions, with the Guru–Shishya Parampara at the heart of its initiatives. These workshops not only safeguard cultural heritage but also provide recognition to the artisans who dedicate their lives to keeping these art forms alive.

Workshops have proven to be a powerful way to strengthen the bond between teacher and student. They spark curiosity, foster patience, and encourage learners to pursue the long and rewarding journey toward artistic mastery.

Continuing this mission, BAF recently organized a Traditional Folk Paper Toy Workshop at Uma Public School, led by Manish Kumar, a master artisan from Rajasthan. Manish comes from a family where this unique craft has been passed down for generations, and he has devoted over two decades to practicing and teaching it.

Over the years, he has conducted more than 1,000 workshops for students, teachers, government school staff, and Anganwadi workers. His sessions are hands-on, engaging, and designed to instill creativity and cultural pride among participants.

During the workshop, students learned to create their own paper toys—a form of indigenous papercraft unfamiliar to many of them. While they knew about origami, they discovered that India, too, has its own rich paper toy tradition. The joy of crafting something with their own hands left them inspired and curious to explore more of their cultural heritage.

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