Prosperity Totas are hand stitched, stuffed, beaded and strung together by women artisans in the small village of Chota Narena, in northern India. As their name suggests and belief has it, totas bring prosperity and good luck when hung in a doorway or window. These traditional art pieces have been a symbol in Indian homes for generations.
- Made from plastic interior, fabric, beads and bells
- Created by hand
- Brass bell attached to end
- Brings good luck and prosperity
- Size: 48" L
Bell totas, or prosperity hens as they are also known, are decorative hangings used by families in India to garner luck and prosperity. The totas consist of a string of stuffed or carved animal designs strung together with beads and bells to make a beautiful piece of decor. Tradition has it that when a family hangs these totas in their doorway or window, they bring about good luck and auspiciousness to the household and the family members.
Today, artisans in the village of Chota Narena, India, use a school as their gathering place to make these decorations. After the school day is over and their families are fed, wives, sisters, daughters and grandmothers of the village convene to create the totas for export. They group receives raw materials in advance, forgoing having to take out loans to buy the materials. Older members teach the younger members how to create the totas and each woman completes a different segment of tota construction like an assembly line. They also use this time to catch up with each other, talking about gossip of the village and strategies for business!
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