Kondapalli Toys Are Telugu Culture’s Priceless Gift to World: EU Ambassador
Ambassador Hervé Delphin praises artisans, culture and eco-friendly craft
Vijayawada: The centuries-old Kondapalli toys, a vibrant symbol of Telugu culture and tradition, are a priceless gift that the Telugu people have offered to the world, observed European Union Ambassador Hervé Delphin on Friday.
The ambassador, accompanied by NTR District collector Lakshmisha and joint collector Ilakkia, visited the Kondapalli Experience Centre run by state tourism department in Kondapalli near here.
He noted that the ancient history of the craft, the use of natural colours and its eco-friendly manufacturing process had earned Kondapalli handicrafts global recognition.
The visit began on a festive note with a traditional Sankranti welcome to the ambassador. Streets were adorned with colourful rangolis, while local women performed Gobbemma songs and dances, which was joined enthusiastically by the envoy along with district officials, creating a celebratory atmosphere reminiscent of an early onset of Sankranti.
During his tour of the Experience Centre, Delphin keenly observed the toy-making process and interacted with artisans to understand their pricing and craftsmanship. He expressed amazement at how a simple piece of softwood is transformed into exquisite figurines.
“Every toy tells a story and every colour reflects a culture,” he remarked, praising the dedication and emotions of the artisans behind the craft.
Delphin hailed the encouragement extended by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to rural arts and Telugu cultural heritage and added that Kondapalli artisans deserved global appreciation. Local representatives, including Ramana Rao, presented Kondapalli toys to the ambassador.
Later, at a luncheon hosted in Vijayawada, the ambassador relished traditional Andhra cuisine served on banana leaves. He was particularly impressed by Guntur gongura pachadi, natukodi pulusu, Rayalaseema’s ulavacharu, Nellore fish curry and desserts such as pootharekulu and bobbatlu, saying they were in no way inferior to European desserts.
After lunch, Delphin said he had discussed the “Blue Valley” initiative with the CM to transform AP’s long coastline into an economic powerhouse with European technology and investments.
The envoy also spoke about cooperation in infrastructure, energy, education and tourism. He noted that the upcoming EU–India summit in Delhi, involving EU leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could pave the way for a free trade agreement.
With around 6,000 European companies already operating in India and providing jobs to nearly 3.8 million people, investments could double in the coming years, Delphin said, expressing optimism that ties between Europe and India would grow stronger across trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
