Thanjavur Thalaiyatti Bommai (Dancing Dolls)

The Thanjavur thalaiyatti bommai comes in two forms: a roly-poly figure, often a raja and rani, whose weight sits in a rounded base so it rocks back upright when pushed, and a dancing doll whose head, torso and skirt are balanced on pivots so they keep swaying long after a touch. Made of terracotta, paper pulp and plaster of Paris and painted by hand in bright colours, the dolls are a fixture of Navaratri golu displays. The Thanjavur doll was registered as a Geographical Indication in 2008.