Passing by toyshops, many colorful toys and dolls draw the attention of children as well as adults.

Among them all, the Iranian dolls Sara and Dara, with their Eastern look and costumes, stand out the most, being quite different than Western dolls.

Dressed in pleated and colorfully patterned lace and embroidered costumes of Iranian ethnic groups such as Kurds, Lors, Baluchis, and Turks, they are competing with blonde Barbies in tight jeans and short stretch dresses.

The Center for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (CIDCYA) has been encouraging parents to buy Iranian dolls for their children for almost a year, but they are still the second choice of children because they are not familiar with them.

Costumes like Sara and Dara's are not seen in any ceremony, street or home. Our little girls have never worn such dresses or seen anybody else wear them. What our little sweethearts wear are the same short tight dresses and Western jeans that Barbie wears.

"You look like an angel today! You look wonderful in those beautiful jeans, my little sweetie! How wonderful you look in such a nice little shirt, my sun!" These are the words our dear ones hear from parents and friends from time to time. How can one not expect our children to choose dolls dressed the same way they dress every day? How can one expect our children to be encouraged to buy dolls in those traditional costumes which they are not all familiar with? Wouldn't it be better to first promote our traditional national culture among our children and see our people dressed in our own national dress and then expect the appearance of Sara and Dara in our homes!