The wave of the Bhakti movement in Bengal during the 15th and 16th centuries introduced the Gour–Nitai dolls—paired male figures with their arms joyfully raised overhead. They represent Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gour), the great Vaishnava saint who preached universal love and devotion, and his beloved companion and disciple Nityananda (Nitai). As the movement spread across Bengal, the worship of Krishna in his many divine forms also grew in popularity, inspiring artisans to create dolls depicting his various incarnations and playful leelas. Over time, regional influences shaped new artistic directions.