BBC News, London
October 24, 2021
Manisha Versani believes that religious soft toys have helped her sons identify with religion and have a meaningful relationship with it.
Can a soft doll in the form of a doll be useful for parents to pass on their religion and culture to their young children?
For the past few years, some small companies in the UK and US have been selling religious toys for children up to the age of ten.
Most of these companies have been started by Hindu parents and they hope that the toys they make will sell well this Diwali.
Remember that this year Diwali will be celebrated on November 4.
Three-year-old Jaidan often has a toy in the shape of the Hindu god, Hanuman, when he sleeps at night, and whenever Jiden's heart wants to, he presses a button and the toy sounds like the famous religious song 'Hanuman Chalsia'. Is.
Jaiden's mother, Manisha Versani, says the Hanuman-shaped soft toy helped her two sons identify their religion and form a meaningful relationship with it, and that she herself learned these things from her mother when She was young and her mother worshiped.
Manisha says she thinks, "It's great that when the kids go to bed, they hear this prayer song." Not only does this give them comfort and they fall asleep, but it also helps them learn a little bit about their religion and culture.
"I think the parents of our generation are moving away from this (religion and culture), so all these things will disappear as my sons get older."
In recent years, many companies have been selling soft toys in the form of Hindu deities and goddesses, most of which are selling their products on the Internet.
Founded in the United States in 2018 under the name Moody Twice, the company has so far sold more than 40,000 religious toys, including Lord Krishna, Ghanish, Hanuman's soft (Cudley Twice).
Similarly, a company called 'Plush India' based in Leeds, UK is selling about one hundred toys in the shape of Ghanish and Hanuman every month.
The Hanuman that Jaiden has is made by a company called 'Plush Legion' which not only makes toys for singing
songs of Hindu deities but also makes soft toys for children of other religions.
Sheema Parmer says she came up with the idea for these religious toys in 2016 when she became a mother.
These toys include toys for Christian, Jewish and Muslim children, in which Muslim children can hear Christian and Jewish religious songs as well as call to prayer.
Shema Parmer, owner of Flash Legion, says she came up with the idea for these religious toys in 2016 when she became a mother.
"I grew up in Watford (on the outskirts of London) where people of different religions and cultures live. I am a Hindu myself but I also used to go to church and many of my friends were Muslims. I enjoyed learning about other religions. Little did I know that when my own child was born, this thought would go deep into my heart. '
But the question arises that these religious toys, which are popular among parents belonging to Hindu religion, can be equally popular among people of other religions?
Plush Legion's products include Ghanish-like toys
In response, Sheema said, "Obviously, I have done a lot of research to ensure that I respect every religion (tradition) as much as possible when designing my toys." ‘
"I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I think I will find out this year. I personally think that the toy we have made for Christian children will be very popular and people will give it to each other as a gift.
Marcela Jadejo Soto was born in Costa Rica and now lives in London with her two young sons and husband.
Although they like the idea of their son sleeping at night with toys in the image of Jesus Christ, listening to Bible stories and feeling comfortable, I don't like the idea of buying toys and keeping them at home. ۔
"The way we interpret the Bible and the way we make the image of God in our minds, I don't think we should make toys in the style of this image of God. In fact, God is not a toy. In that sense, I don't like the idea that there is a barrel of pigs on one side of my room and a toy with the image of Jesus Christ on it. '
But Barbara Nelkin, a Jew, liked the idea of religious toys, and when she saw a Cudley toy in the shape of a Star of David in the local market, she liked it.
Although she believes the toy will appeal to her grandchildren, the religious song the company has recorded is not a good choice.
The prayer (Shima) recorded in it is a very important prayer. When we (Jews) recite this prayer, we put our hands over our eyes so that we can focus our full attention on the prayer. That's why I think this toy is good, but it would be better if there was another happy religious song in it.
Research has shown that toys can be helpful in children's religious education
Toys made in the style of gods and goddesses seem to be gaining popularity in the Hindu community, while at the same time there are religious toys available today that are not only very popular but also aimed at educating children about their religion and culture. To inform about In this regard, Desi Doll Company has also created some character based toys which are aimed at providing light information about Islam to children of different religious backgrounds.
While toys based on religious beliefs as a whole are easy to dismiss as useless, some experts believe they can be a great way to connect children with a religion.
Dr. Ligane Higgins, a researcher on the consumer's religious habits and their purchases, is from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.
Van said his research shows that people buy products made to suit religious figures and ideologies, and then give them meaning in reference to one of their stories, and that object or toy is for them. Becomes important.
She says she met an orthodox Catholic woman who cared deeply for the image of Mary, which she had bought when she went on a pilgrimage. She was initially embarrassed as to why she bought the statue, which shone at night, but then she told me that when her eyes suddenly open at night and she gets upset, she decided to give it to her. Getting a pass is very comforting and she feels safe.
Although Dr. Huggins is unaware of the current trend of religious toys, she believes that this is a great idea and that it can introduce you to children with the gentleness, the beauty that makes any believer their own. Meets faith.
She says the symbolic significance of the soft-spoken teddy bear is so great that children associate it with their caste, and it is a great idea to associate religious education with a toy. "It can help children understand what religion is and there is no need to be afraid of it."
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