Another Doll story

I do not like the assumption that girls play only with dolls and would not be interested in vehicles or other such " traditional male domains". Especially from educated otherwise progressive people.

If books are unisex then why not toys/ dolls? One would think the toy manufacturers had placed blue and pink dots along side the reccomended age to indicate which gender should opt for it .

I never assume that a boy cannot/ will not play with a doll or a kitchen set. I just Pooh Pooh these notions.

And a doll can mean anything from Noddy to Raggedy Andy to Teletubbies to Hanuman right?

For further clarity look at how a doll is defined-
A doll is an object that represents a baby or other human being, but also includes likenesses of animals and imaginary creatures. Dolls have been around since the dawn of human civilization, and have been fashioned from a vast array of materials, ranging from stone, clay, wood, bone, cloth and paper, to porcelain, china, rubber and plastic.

So the next time you tell me that girls are into dolls and the assumption is that your boy is not- think twice- by the above definition even a plastic GI Joe is also a doll.

And in case anyone is curious, Anush does not have a Barbie. Nor does she have a GI Joe.

On to elaborate on choxbox's query on the "Marapaachi Bommai "- they are made of a certain wood - marapaachi ( Red sanders?) near Sri Kalahasti in Madhavamala ( near Tirupathi) and are a must in golus. They are usually gifted at the wedding by the bride's parents. Possibly seen to promote fertility ( like a totem). More about them here