Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, was and is the centre of chikan embroidery, renowned for its timeless grace and its gossamer delicacy, a skill more than 200 years old --- exploited, commercialis but not dead. In fact, the craft is alive and strugglin...
Block printing is believed to have originated in China towards early 3rd century. Records of its presence in Egypt and some Asian countries were also found around the 4th century, from where it spread to Europe and other places. Apart from wood,...
The sari or saree is as old as the Indian civilization. Cotton weaving was known to the inhabitants of the Indus Valley civilization some 5000 years ago. There is mention of sari in the Vedas and Mahabharat establishing the origin and age of sari.It...
Kalamkari hand-painting on fabric is a technique used to embellish temple cloth and hangings. Painted hangings are used for religious instruction, in temples, and for draping behind the idol in temple cars during processions.The process followed her...
Aranmula is a small village near Chengannur in Kerala and is renowned for making a special type of metallic mirrors with bell metal, an alloy of copper and tin. It is believed that a divine visitation inspired a widow of this village to discover a ...
Now a languishing craft, this blue pottery is made only by a single family who can trace their lineage back to the Mughals. Blue pottery, characterised by an unusual turquoise aqua blue colour, had very limited centres for production with Delhi as ...
Embroidery from the Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat is not only famous but also versatile. There are plenty of stitches used to beautify the product. Abhala is the embroidery where small round pieces of mirrors are fixed on to the fabric usi...
Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh has highly skilled artists practicing the delicate craftsmanship of filigree. Spoons, buttons cigarette cases, boxes, ashtrays, buttons pill boxes, jewelry, paandans and perfume containers. Designs of Peacock, parrots an...
The finest patterns of terracotta panels can be found in Bengal towns of Murshidabad, Birbhaum, Jessore, Hooghly and Digha. The theme is generally folk and the patterns are fairly highlighted with traditional skill and explicit artwork.The clay ...
The various customs and traditions attached to the festival of Lohri signifies the harvesting of the Rabi crops. The people of Northern India, especially Punjab and Haryana celebrate Lohri, to mark the end of winter. Harvested fields and front y...
Coconut Shell, Fibre & Stem Craft Coconut trees grow all over Kerala, and the coconut is a fruit which is used in its entirety. From the coconut shell products like bowls, vases, tea pots and hookas are crafted. Lamp stands encased in brass and ...
Bone and Shell Marine mollusks(animals) strip off their calcareous casing from time to time. These are sea shells which are painted, etched, carved, cut and sculpted to form various utility and decorative handicraft items. Some of the shells use...
The subtropical region of Asia, specially India, Bangladesh and China is most popular for Jute. Jute craft is most popular in this region and is derived from the fibre of a reed like plant. The warm humid climate of West Bengal with plenty of ra...
Clay figures are made all over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Traditionally each village is guarded at its entrance by an enormous terracotta horse, which is the horse of Ayyanaar, a religious figure, the gramdevta of the village and its protector ...
Some of them are in filigreed, fretted marble or sandstone. Some of the popular places of stone carvings are Meenakshi and Rameshwaram Temple of Tamil Nadu, Tirupati and Gundala Mallikarjuna Swami Temple of Andhra Pradesh and Cave and Vithala Temple...
Winding through the cobble-stoned lanes of Bidar, 75 miles north-west of Hyderabad, one is impressed by the wealth of traditional and colorful artifacts that festoon the once rich township of Bahmani and Baridi dynasties. Amidst the embers of this f...
