The National Library gave a master class on making a Chechen rag doll «Tainig»

The art workshop «Tainig» for the making of a Chechen rag doll was held on August 17 in the Department of Literature on Art of the National Library of the Chechen Republic named after A.A. Aidamirov. The guests of the event received a master class on creating a traditional folk doll and leamed the subtleties of this artform.

The event was attended by students of secondary educational institutions of the Chechen Republic. The master class was conducted by the leading specialist of the House of Culture of the Grozny municipal district Akhmedova Elvira Said-Huseynovna, who showed the children how to make a doll with their own hands, taught them how to work with different tools.

During the Art workshop «Tainig» children were able to acquire interesting skills in handwork and show their imagination in decorating a rag toy. According to Elvira Akhmatova, all participants of the event demonstrated great talent in this skill. In total, during the master class, the participants made 15 dolls, which they were able to take home.

The librarian of the department, Elina Erzanukayeva, in turn, noted that such master classes help to preserve the interest of the younger generation in folk culture, customs and traditions. During the meeting, she told the audience the story of the origin of the Chechen rag doll.

The folk rag doll was not just a toy, it played a big role in the upbringing of children and carried a certain function. It was believed that playing with dolls formed girls’ work skills around the house. They learned to sew, cook houschold utensils for a dollhouse.

Thus, little girls were prepared for economic and family life. Dolls «Tainig»  also played a kind of a talisman, as it was believed that a rag toy protects a child from otherworldly forces and the evil eye», said Elina Erzanukayeva.