Artisans in Karnataka's Channapatna area are painstakingly crafting traditional wooden toys to be gifted to U.S. President Barack Obama and his family during their visit to the country to attend the Republic Day celebrations.
The town of Channapatna is popular for its wooden toys. The toys are made of special wood in a variety of colours. The artisans use the ivory component of a special tree grown in old Mysore for making these toys and dolls, which are also exported worldwide.
"The head of our shop took 15 to 20 best wooden toys from our shop. Out of that, seven have been selected and will be given to the Obamas'," said a worker at the shop, Syed Nizam.
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama had brought some toys crafted by artisans from a shop in Channapatna town during her last visit to India in November 2010.
"In 2010, when Obama's wife was here in Delhi, she took some of the toys which we had showcased at an event. So, I think that she again wants these items, but I am not sure if she has asked for it or our government is doing it," said Nizam.
The Karnataka Government wanted to personally hand over the gift to the U.S. first family but was not allowed to due to tight security measures.
President Obama, who landed in New Delhi earlier in the day, will take part in Republic Day celebrations on the invitation of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He will be the first U.S. President to attend a Republic Day celebration, the White House said. Obama, who visited India in 2010, is the first U.S. president to visit the country twice while in office.
Obama's participation at the Republic Day celebrations is a sign of steadily expanding ties between the two countries.
