In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, traditional play often takes a backseat. However,  true growth happens through Kreeda (play) and Keednak (toys). 

• Play or Kreeda has been very important in the Bhartiya or Indian way of life, and has been an integrated part of our childhood, and has fostered our development by inculcating some important core values in us.

The Importance of Play or Kreeda in Bhartiya Culture

Nowadays, sports are taken as a way to keep oneself busy or to pass time. Sports also has the potential to be a means of livelihood for a player. However, according to the Indian knowledge system, sports & games are neither meant to keep one busy nor is it a business. It is way above all this. Sports are directly related to our body – most importantly to pranamaya kosha. 

Children’s games should exercise their bodies, relieve stress from their minds and remove their vices as well as teach them to accept others, which is also known as sportsmanship. Traditionally, Bhartiya toys and games have been created keeping all these things in mind. 

Indians generally do not play games alone. This is because the purpose of the game will be fulfilled only with the feeling of accepting someone other than yourself, being in harmony with them and developing the habit of making some compromises to find a middle ground in case of difference of opinion. The foundation of inculcating these qualities lies in playing games and the sharing of toys. Thus, through games, children learn to live in a group, accept others, as well as how to behave with others.

Interestingly, games also enable teachers to know more about the child. It serves as a means of knowing who the child truly is,because when a child plays, he will look and behave as he is. When a child studies, he acts with a certain discipline and sense of control, but by watching him playing a game, the teacher will be able to know his basic virtues and vices.

India – The Birthplace of Toys

Although India currently has a very large market for foreign toys, it is fascinating to know that India is actually the birthplace of toys! India started creating toys around 3,000 years ago, long before the civilizations of many other regions were established.

The Need for Toys & Games – Panchakosha Vikas

Toys are essential for children as they are developing focus and need something to engage with. The best object for engagement is a toy, as it does not demand a response.

During a certain age, when a child seeks frequent responses, it needs living human beings who can respond. However, the child has phases of self-absorption when it is not looking for a response and finds satisfaction in self-play. This is when toys keep a child engaged in spite of not eliciting a direct response from the child. 

The more a child plays with toys, the more focused and engrossed they become. Unintentionally, the child’s concentration increases. Therefore, Indian scholars have described toys for childhood.

The Charak Samhita talks extensively about toys: 

Kreedanakani yathaa-shastram dadyaat

This means, choose toys for children keeping in mind the rules of shastras.

The Charak Samhita has also provided many other guidelines, like:

Kreedanakani khalu ateekshnaani syuhu 

This means toys should not be sharp.

What toys should not be

• Toys should be soft, and there should be no possibility of getting injured while playing with them. It is essential that toys do not cause any harm in any way.

• Toys should not be small enough for a child to put them in their mouth.

• They should not produce loud sounds, meaning they should not have very high or noisy voices. 

Nowadays, many toys come with high-pitched sounds, and because the child is attracted to loud sounds, parents bring them for children. These toys include automatic guns, self-propelled cars, robots, etc. These are best avoided as they have harmful effects on the child’s senses and mind.

• Toys that frighten the child, such as a ghost or a demon face or mask, should be completely avoided.

What toys should be

• Toys should produce sweet and melodious sounds.

• Animal-shaped toys should be like cows, buffaloes, dogs – small toys that can be given to children to play with.

• Toys should be pistmayani.

Children’s toys should be made of lac (shellac). Lac is a type of resin that solidifies into a wax-like substance when cooled. Lac toys melt when exposed to fire.

• Toys can be made of flour dough. In modern times, toys can also be made of wood.

• Give your children toys made of wood, colored with organic and natural colors. 

The Collaboration: Brahm Varchas x Truly Tribal

In order to bring the timeless Bhartiya tradition of Kreeda with Bhartiya Kreedanak to your homes, Brahm Varchas is proud to announce its collaboration with Truly Tribal today, on  April 14, 2025.

We are jointly unveiling a curated range of authentic Channapatna wooden toys and handcrafted Bhartiya games that blend traditional techniques with timeless design.

These toys & games are not just for play — they are functional art forms that connect children to Indian heritage while encouraging mindful and meaningful development. Chinnapatna toys comply with all the dos and don’ts of toys for children when it comes to colour, safety of material used, not having sharp or pointed edges, percussion (sound) and more. The inherent science and psychology that is traditionally and so beautifully ingrained in Chinnapatna toy-making artists! 

Through this collaboration, Truly Tribal is helping sustain Channapatna’s iconic toy-making craft, thus ensuring its economic and cultural survival for generations to come. Every Chinnapatna toy you purchase for your child aids in his/her development, as well as creates a sustainable source of income for Chinnapatna artisans. It is committed to this cause by providing a platform for traditional Indian toy makers and artisans to generate livelihoods and to encourage their future generations to adopt this as a career and keep the tradition alive for generations to come. 

In addition to toys, Truly Tribal also offers a range of Indian games for the entire family, which include Pachchissi (Royal cloth board game), Moksha Pattam (vices & virtues game), Pallankuzhi (Southern strategy game) and more.

Brahm Varchas brings the age-old knowledge of how to use applied psychology and indirect skill-building and Sanskar among children and growing adults. Bharat’s learnings are rooted in its scientific and generational practices and lifestyle. Our endeavor is to make knowledge available alongwith the instrument to acquire that knowledge while shaping personalities and minds.

The Legacy of Toys or Kreedanak: Channapatna Toys

At the heart of this movement is Channapatna, a small town in Karnataka, often referred to as the “Toy Town of India.”

With roots tracing back to 1700’s, Channapatna toys are handcrafted using soft, sustainable woods like Aale Mara (Ivory Wood), and are colored with natural dyes, thus making them safe, eco-friendly, and toxin-free.

Each piece is skillfully turned on a lathe, polished with lac (a natural resin), and shaped with love and precision. Their smooth finishes, vibrant natural colors, and rounded, child-safe designs are a testament to Indian craftsmanship.

Why Parents Should Make the Shift

With their soft textures, pleasant wooden sounds, and organic finishes, these toys and games are a refreshing alternative to plastic clutter. They nurture imagination and mindfulness, while keeping your child connected to cultural roots and eco-conscious living.

What’s more, they do not pollute the environment! They are available in a wide range of attractive colours, shapes, sizes and are suitable for age groups ranging from infants to teens and beyond. 

Games are a great way to keep the entire family engaged and foster bonding to create timeless memories! We have games for adults too, which include Pachchissi (Royal cloth board game), Moksha Pattam (vices & virtues game), Pallankuzhi (Southern strategy game) and more in collaboration with Truly Tribal. To check out the full range of games, visit: https://brahmvarchas.org/indian-sports/

Join in!

This is not just about toys. It’s about preserving a tradition, empowering artisans, and redefining childhood. Let’s bring back play that’s pure, purposeful, and proudly Indian.