How Japan's Daruma Dolls Intersect with Indian Culture

Almost everything related to Japanese culture is gaining prominence in India—or at the very least, sparking conversation. The latest example is a Daruma doll, presented by the Chief Priest of the Shorinzan-Daruma-ji Temple, a gesture that highlights how cultural connections continue to play a meaningful role, even in political exchanges.

It’s worth noting that, alongside Japanese cuisine and popular items like matcha, Japanese literature has also seen a rise in interest—particularly within certain Indian book clubs. Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit paved the way for this act of goodwill between the two nations.

“The ceremonial exchange of gifts between heads of state is an occasion to showcase the extraordinary heritage of each country – in this case, between Japan and India, also the ancient civilisational connect between the nations,” historian Dr. Sanjeev Chopra says, in a conversation with Local Samosa.

Another Indo-Japan linkage

Reportedly, the Daruma doll is one of Japan's most enduring cultural symbols. These hollow, round, painted dolls symbolise perseverance, resilience, and good fortune. They are modelled on Bodhidharma—the Indian monk from Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu—who founded Zen Buddhism. Known in Japan as Daruma Daishi, he is believed to have travelled there over a thousand years ago, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

It features a unique weighted design that allows it to return upright whenever it is pushed over. This characteristic is beautifully reflected in the popular Japanese proverb, "Nanakorobi yaoki" — fall seven times, get up eight — which symbolises resilience and perseverance. According to legend, Bodhidharma meditated for nine continuous years while facing a wall, with his limbs folded. Perhaps this is why the Daruma doll has a peculiar, rounded shape with no limbs — and traditionally, no eyes.

The story of the Daruma doll as a good-luck charm is closely associated with the Shorinzan Daruma Temple in Takasaki, located north of Tokyo. Initially, the temple’s founder would hand-draw New Year’s charms depicting Bodhidharma. As demand increased, the ninth priest, Togaku, introduced a papier-mâché figurine, which gradually evolved into the Daruma doll we know today.

According to Dr. Sanjeev Chopra — governance scholar, historian, and former civil servant — the Daruma doll is named after the Indian monk Daruma Daishi, who is widely regarded as the founder of Zen Buddhism. “In fact, the very word Zen speaks to an etymological transfer from India to Japan, as it is derived from Dhyana, just as Daruma comes from Dharma,” says Dr. Chopra, who currently serves as Festival Director of the Valley of Words.

Intersection of politics and culture

However, the story and ritual surrounding the Daruma doll could not be confined to Japan alone. It gradually spread across the country and beyond, weaving its way into business, politics, and the personal lives of people. Today, the tradition continues to thrive, with Takasaki proudly celebrating its status as the doll’s birthplace through the annual Daruma Doll Festival (Daruma-ichi), held at Shorinzan.

Several rituals are associated with these dolls. After purchasing one, the owner is expected to make a wish or set a goal. The dolls come with blank white eyes — the left eye is filled in with black ink upon setting the intention. The right eye, however, is only painted once the goal is achieved, making the doll a symbol of both commitment and accomplishment.

Honouring this age-old tradition, pilgrims have been visiting the temple for centuries to receive Daruma dolls as tokens of good fortune, perseverance, and resilience.

In the context of Japan, Indian tourists have flocked to the country in the recent past more than ever, ensuring that various pop-culture trends thrive in India that were sourced from Japanese lifestyles.

Similarly, in Japanese tradition, giving a Daruma is about expressing faith in someone’s determination to achieve their goals. “These gifts showcase the work of artisans as cultural representatives of the nation in the political scenario of diplomatic relationships. Art is brought to the fore as a symbol of partnership when artefacts from one nation are showcased in the highest political institutions of the other country,” Dr. Chopra adds.