Children of determination learn to make Chekutty dolls in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - For the children, their parents and volunteers of Heavenly Angels, Chekutty is a survivor, who has fought all odds.

Chekutty doll, Kerala's symbol of resilience and hope after the devastating floods, has found new admirers in the UAE. A group of children of determination tried their hands at making Chekutty dolls during a workshop held as part of the annual 'Keralotsav' at Kerala Social Centre Abu Dhabi.
Chekutty is an initiative by entrepreneurs Lakshmi Menon and Gopinath Parayil, aiming to resurrect the Chendamangalam handloom sector that was destroyed during the recent floods.
For the children, their parents and volunteers of Heavenly Angels, Chekutty is a survivor, who has fought all odds. Heavenly Angels is a Dubai-based support group formed by parents of children of determination.
"Chekutty resembles our differently abled kids. Nobody had hopes on those damaged fabric, but today, Chekutty resembles hope. Similarly, nobody had any hopes for my children before but now, people have started accepting and cherishing them. This is why we are so attached to Chekutty," Bindhu Pillai, a volunteer said.
She said Heavenly Angels seeks to bring their kids into the mainstream and allow them to be part of society. Bindhu said the group of 40 families has helped the children come out of their houses, explore their potential and become confident. "From needing to cajole them to come on stage, these kids now happily perform at any given opportunity, which shows the self-confidence they now possess. Social interaction has helped these children to become confident. Now they feel part of the society," said Bindhu, who has been in Dubai for around 24 years.
"I was following Chekutty from the very start. It was easy for us at Heavenly Angels to connect with Chekutty. Kids loved making Chekutty dolls," Bindhu added.
It was Friends of Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad Abu Dhabi that started a drive to bring Chekutty dolls to the UAE.
Lakshmi and Parayil conducted a workshop during the last day of the annual Keralotsav, where several other cultural events were also held. A portion of the amount raised at the festival will be donated to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Abu Dhabi