Thatta Kedona

28/08/2026

🐪 THE STORY OF THE FEMALE CAMEL RIDER — A DREAM OF FREEDOM 🌾

What you are seeing in this AI-generated video was once just a still photograph of a handmade camel rider, lovingly created by the artisan girls of Thatta Kedona. AI has brought the camels to life, making them walk — but the story behind this little creation is very real. ❤️

When Dr. Senta Siller had asked the girls not to develop more new products, a village girl came to her with a camel she had made using nothing more than copper wire and woollen thread.
Senta looked at the little figure sitting on the camel and asked:

“Who is the rider?”

The girl replied:

“It’s me. I wish to ride a camel and feel the air of freedom on my face.” 🐪💨

Those simple words captured something much bigger than a handmade toy — a young village girl’s dream of freedom, adventure and seeing the world beyond her surroundings.

The Female Camel Rider soon became one of the most sought-after creations of Thatta Kedona, proving once again that the most beautiful ideas often come from the simplest dreams.
Today, AI has made these still camels walk. But behind every moving camel is the imagination, skill and dream of a village artisan girl. 🌸

From a piece of copper wire and woollen thread… to a dream riding into the world.

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18/08/2026

A Proud and Historic Moment 🇵🇰🇩🇪

A deeply moving moment at the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin: Dr. Senta Siller is warmly welcomed by H.E. Saqlain Syedah, Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany, and then honoured with the prestigious Sitara-e-Pakistan.

As Pakistan’s national anthem plays in the background, the ceremony becomes an especially emotional tribute to Dr. Siller and her decades of dedicated work for rural women, particularly in the small village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Punjab.

A beautiful moment of recognition, friendship and gratitude between Pakistan and Germany. 🇵🇰❤️🇩🇪

17/08/2026

A HISTORIC HONOUR FOR DR. SENTA SILLER🇵🇰🇩🇪

German artist, designer and anthropologist Dr. Senta Siller has received one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards, the Sitara-e-Pakistan, in recognition of her decades of work empowering rural women, especially in the tiny village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Punjab.

The award was presented to her by H.E. Saqlain Syedah, Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany, during the Pakistan Day celebrations at the Pakistani Embassy in Berlin on August 14.

Mr. Irfan Aftab, correspondent of the Urdu Service of Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), also attended the ceremony and spoke with Dr. Siller about her feelings after receiving this great honour.

Here is DW Urdu’s video report on this memorable occasion. 🎥🇵🇰🇩🇪
https://p.dw.com/p/5IxsG

ڈاکٹر سینتا سلر کو پاکستان کے ایک دور دراز گاؤں 'ٹھٹہ غلام کا دھیروکا' کے لیے سماجی خدمت، ثقافت کے فروغ اور خواتین کو بااختیار بنانے کے اعتراف میں ستارہ امتیاز سے نواز...

14/08/2026

A Historic Moment for Dr. Senta Siller and Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka 🇵🇰🇩🇪

Finally, after decades of selfless service to the people of rural Punjab, Dr. Senta Siller has received one of Pakistan’s highest civil honours for foreign nationals — the Sitara-i-Pakistan.

At the age of 90, and just three months before her 91st birthday, Dr. Siller received the prestigious award at a colourful ceremony at the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin from H.E. Ms. Saqlain Syedah, Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany.

The honour recognises her extraordinary contribution to Pakistan, particularly her lifelong commitment to women’s empowerment, rural development and income generation through handicrafts.

Her journey began in Pakistan in 1990, when she first visited the small village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka in District Okara. There she discovered talented village women who possessed remarkable traditional skills but had almost no opportunity to earn from their work. From this encounter grew Thatta Kedona — the Village of Dolls, a unique handicrafts and self-help project that gave rural women the opportunity to earn an income, support their families and strengthen their position within their communities.

For the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, this is much more than an award to an individual. It is an honour for an entire village and a recognition of a relationship that has lasted for more than three decades. The village community had hoped for many years that Pakistan would one day acknowledge Dr. Siller’s extraordinary contribution at the highest level.

Germany had already recognised her achievements in 1996 with the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz). Her work has also received international recognition, including the UNESCO Seal of Excellence in 2007.

Dr. Siller has always believed in help for self-help: not simply giving people assistance, but creating opportunities through which they can shape a better future with their own hands.

From six village girls making dolls to a project that became known far beyond Pakistan, her work has left a lasting legacy. Thatta Kedona has become a symbol of how culture, creativity, dignity and economic opportunity can transform lives.

Today, the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka can proudly say:

Dr. Senta Siller is not only a friend of our village — she has become part of its history.💐🌷💝

Heartfelt congratulations to our beloved “Mother of Dolls” on receiving the Sitara-i-Pakistan. 🇵🇰❤️🇩🇪

May this honour inspire many more generations to believe in the power of compassion, friendship and help for self-help.

10/08/2026

🌷AMJAD’S VILLAGE — The Story Before “Thatta Kedona”🌷

More than 35 years ago, a small village in Pakistan was about to begin a remarkable journey.

Amjad’s Village, directed by Joachim Polzer, premiered in Berlin on 9 November 1991. This rare short documentary takes us back to Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, the village that would later become known as Pakistan’s “Toy Village" or "The Village Of Dolls".

Filmed before the village became widely recognized for its handicrafts, the documentary captures its people, traditions and the early roots of its distinctive handmade ethnic dolls and other traditional crafts.

At the heart of this story is "THE Mother Of Dolls" Dr. Senta Siller, a German artist, designer and social worker whose vision and dedication helped transform the traditional skills of the village’s women into a source of creativity, dignity and livelihood. Her pioneering work gave rise to Thatta Kedona, which would go on to become known far beyond the village itself.

In 2026, Dr. Senta Siller has been honoured with the Sitara-e-Pakistan, one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards, recognizing her extraordinary contribution to Pakistan’s cultural heritage and rural communities.

Today, Amjad’s Village is much more than an old film. It is a time capsule—a precious glimpse into the people and traditions of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka at the very beginning of a story that continues to this day.

For the first time, this historic documentary is being published on our YouTube channel “Thatta Kedona Official” with Urdu subtitles, allowing a new generation to discover the story of the village, its people and the remarkable journey that began here.

Watch the past come alive.
Discover the village behind the dolls.
Discover the story of Thatta Kedona.

More than 35 years ago, a small village in Pakistan was about to be...

27/07/2026

🍈🌿OUR EFFORTS ARE BEARING FRUIT!🍀🍊
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the results of sincere care and dedication.

The guava and orange trees at our Pump House in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka are now full of healthy, almost ripe fruits. They stand as a beautiful reminder that when plants are cared for, watered regularly, and protected, they flourish.

These trees are more than just fruit-bearing plants—they symbolize hope, patience, and the importance of looking after the resources entrusted to us. In many ways, our efforts are bearing fruit, quite literally.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported our journey and helped us create a greener, healthier environment for our village. 🌿🍊🍈

26/07/2026

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Tariq Suleman to the Senta Siller Design Center (SSDC) in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, where he also visited the newly established showroom of Thatta Kedona.

Dr. Suleman—academic, journalist, entrepreneur, PhD scholar at SOAS, University of London, and one of the founding directors of the Pakistan Literature Festival in London—is curating the Festivities of Ecological Humanism at ASIA NOW – Paris Asian Art Fair 2026.

His visit focused on exploring how Thatta Kedona’s unique journey—bringing together ecology, traditional craftsmanship, women’s empowerment, education, and intercultural dialogue through handcrafted dolls rooted in the cultural heritage of rural Punjab—aligns with the vision of this international festival.

We were honoured by his keen interest and thoughtful discussions. Dr. Suleman was accompanied by Mr. Shehzad Hassan, President of the Okara Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

We thank our distinguished guests for their visit and look forward to future opportunities for cultural dialogue and international collaboration.

19/07/2026

Celebrate the Mini Dolls of Thatta Kedona!🌸

Handcrafted with love by the talented artisan girls of Thatta Kedona and brought to life by AI, these delightful Mini Dolls are designed as charming finger puppets. Available in different sizes, from 5 to 10 cm, they instantly transform your fingers into lively little characters.

Slip them onto your fingers, and a miniature puppet theatre comes to life, bringing smiles and laughter to children while delighting adults with their creativity and craftsmanship.

These adorable handmade finger puppets are among Thatta Kedona’s most popular creations—a beautiful blend of traditional artistry, imagination, and endless fun for people of all ages.

17/07/2026

❤️A STORY WORTH REVISITING❤️

More than five years ago, renowned journalist Mr. Karim Islam, as a BBC Urdu correspondent, visited our village and beautifully documented the story of Thatta Kedona. Along with producing a wonderful documentary, he also wrote a detailed feature for the BBC Urdu website, capturing the spirit of our village, the dedication of our artisan women, and the vision behind this unique handicrafts initiative.

The article is enriched with remarkable photographs that preserve precious moments from our journey and showcase the talent and resilience of the women of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

Although several years have passed, the story remains as inspiring and relevant today as ever. It is time to revisit this beautiful article and remember how a small village’s dream reached the world.

Our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Karim Islam and BBC Urdu for preserving this chapter of Thatta Kedona’s history with such professionalism and warmth. https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan-55526965

پہلی نظر میں یہ پنجاب کا کوئی عام سا گاؤں ہی لگتا ہے۔ اردگرد کے دوسرے دیہات کی طرح یہاں بھی ہر طرف سبزا نظر آتا ہے۔ لہلہاتے کھیتوں کے بیچ کچھ کچے پکے مکان بھی ہیں۔

09/07/2026

❤️STORY OF DECADES IN LESS THAN A MINUTE❤️

This beautiful video report by Dawn News Urdu TV may be less than a minute long, but it captures the soul of Thatta Kedona—the handicrafts and community development initiative in the small village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.

What began as a dream has grown into a movement that empowers rural women, preserves centuries-old handicraft traditions, and transforms lives through dignity, creativity, and hope.

Sometimes, a single minute is enough to reveal what words alone cannot express.

🎥 Watch, share, and help spread the story of a village where every handcrafted piece carries a tradition, every smile reflects resilience, and every achievement is a reminder that meaningful change begins with people who dare to dream.