The one from childhood: the legendary nevalyashka presented at the Department Store RUSSIA in Yugra
At the Department Store RUSSIA of the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra, visitors can see a toy familiar to everyone from childhood. The nevalyashka (roly-poly toy) has long ceased to be simply a plaything: it is a reminder of resilience, the warmth of memories and the very thread that connects generations.
Prototypes of the nevalyashka came from different cultures. Japan’s daruma taught perseverance in achieving goals, while in 19th-century Russia, workshops in Nizhny Novgorod and Sergiyev Posad created their own tumbling toy with a weight inside. The nevalyashka acquired its familiar appearance — a smile, a white headscarf, a scarlet sarafan and rounded shapes — in the Soviet period.
The nevalyashka has set off on a new journey — from Kotovsk to Yugra. It is a long road: forests, marshes, rivers and endless open spaces.
In Khanty-Mansiysk, it managed to visit the Archaeopark and take a walk around the central square. It saw the Resurrection Cathedral and the "To the Discoverers of the Land of Yugra" stele. It also visited the A.V. Filipenko Winter Sports Centre and arrived at the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra.
It received a warm welcome at the Department Store RUSSIA. Now every guest of the National Centre has the opportunity to see the very same handmade nevalyashka from Kotovsk. It is a simple toy familiar to everyone, but it carries a great meaning: no matter how much it rocks, it always stands back up and rings again.
The nevalyashka is like a key to childhood: a mother’s hands, the smell of milk, the evening light of a floor lamp. But it is not only a symbol of childhood. With its ding-dong sound and stubborn desire to stand up, the nevalyashka reminds us: if you fall, get up; if you bend, straighten up. At the Department Store RUSSIA of the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra, the children’s toy appears in various forms.
Those who appreciate traditions will enjoy the Kotovsk nevalyashka. The classic rosy-cheeked nevalyashka with a cheerful chime inside began to be produced in the Tambov Region back in the late 1950s. Today, Kotovsk is the country’s main nevalyashka capital. Each doll is hand-painted by artists. The factory’s range includes about 35 types, from classic red-and-white nevalyashkas to toys shaped like animals and cartoon characters.
The doll has become a true cultural brand of the country. The Kotovsk nevalyashka represented Russia at the Russian-Chinese EXPO in Harbin, at INNOPROM 2026 in Uzbekistan and at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Alongside the beauty in the scarlet sarafan, familiar from childhood, the Department Store also presents nevalyashkas in a northern style, created by Yelena Karakotova from Pyt-Yakh. The craftswoman draws inspiration from the culture and ornaments of the Khanty and Mansi peoples, combining a modern form with national motifs.
The Department Store also features interior nevalyashkas from Bashkortostan. They are made of plaster, so they are not suitable for play, but they are ideal for decorating a space. This nevalyashka does not rock or chime, but it becomes a stylish art object that attracts attention with its laconic design.
Visitors can discover the nevalyashkas in the Department Store space at the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra. People buy the toy for children and adults, for the home or as a memory of their visit to the space. This item does not lose its relevance over time and preserves its value as it is passed down from generation to generation.
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