How A Tiny Doll Became Japan’s Symbol Of Hope And Luck News24 –
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was gifted a Daruma doll, a cherished symbol of perseverance and good fortune in Japanese culture. The Chief Priest of Tokyo’s historic Shorinzan-Daruma-ji Temple presented the doll, reflecting the deepening cultural ties and mutual respect between India and Japan.
What Is A Daruma Doll?
The Daruma doll is one of the most ancient and strong symbols of Japan, considered a symbol of patience, strength and good luck. It is round and hollow, decorated with bright colours. The doll is based on Bodhidharma, a monk from Kanchipuram, India, who was the founder of Zen Buddhism. Its special feature is that it is so heavy that even if it is dropped, it stands upright again on its own, reflecting the Japanese proverb “Nanakorobi Yaoki” (Fall seven times, get up the eighth time).
Goal Setting Tradition
Daruma dolls are traditionally used for goal setting. When a person makes a wish or sets a goal, he or she fills the doll’s left eye with black color. When the goal is reached, the right eye is also filled. This process symbolizes a person’s commitment and determination to achieve the goal. For centuries, devotees have visited Shorinzan-Daruma-ji Temple and picked up this doll to increase their spiritual strength and patience.
Historical Background
Daruma dolls originated from the Shorinzan Daruma Temple in Taka-saki, north of Tokyo. The temple’s founders made amulets depicting Bodhidharma during the New Year, which brought happiness, prosperity and protection from the evil eye to the devotees. Seeing the growing demand, the ninth priest Togaku created paper figurines, which later transformed into the current form of the Daruma doll.
Cultural Significance And Celebration
Over time, the meaning of the Daruma doll has expanded beyond religious boundaries to become a symbol of determination in business, politics and other walks of life. The Daruma Doll Festival (Daruma-ichi) is held every year at the Shorinzan Shrine in Taka-saki, where thousands of people gather to buy new dolls, make new resolutions and return old dolls.
Why Was The Daruma Doll Given To PM Modi?
The gift of this Daruma doll to PM Modi was of deep symbolic significance. It was not just a cultural gift but also a gesture of wishing for stability in leadership and success in further strengthening India-Japan relations. In Japanese tradition, giving a Daruma is considered to express faith in one’s resolve and the achievement of goals.
A bridge between cultures
Thus, this small, stable and full of eyes doll given to PM Modi is not just a gift but serves as a cultural bridge between Japan’s age-old spirit of determination and India’s current ambitions.