Bhawai is a folk dance with swaying and twirling movements that is performed by women from certain tribes from the state of Rajasthan. This folk dance is one of the state’s most exciting dance performances as it involves tricky balancing acts, right from balancing seven to nine brass pots on the head to balancing oneself (along with the pots) on narrow and unstable objects like a glass bottle, brass plate or the edge of a sword. The brass pots can, and are often, substituted by an even greater number of earthen pots. Bhawai is also one of the most colorful performances of the state as the women wear bright colored ghaghra cholis and dupattas. The men from these communities offer the music to this dance, using string and percussion instruments. Bhavai dance is often misinterpreted from ‘Bhavai’ which is a folk theatre form of Gujarat.

Background
Although many believe that this dance originated in Gujarat and was inspired by a folk theatre art form of the same name, the Bhawai folk dance of Rajasthan has been a part of the state’s culture for a number of years. This thrilling art form is known to be a special custom of the following tribes: Bhils, Raigers, Charmars, Kumhars, Jats, Meenas and even Kalbelias. The Bhawai dance is usually performed during fairs and festivals as well as special occasions such as weddings. The emergence of this dance form can be traced to the household needs of Rajasthani folk, wherein the women were responsible for traveling long distances each day with numerous brass pots in order to fetch water for the family.

Sources of Inspiration
This dance is inspired by the fact that in the age of feudalism, and to some extent even today, the women of Rajasthan have had to walk for miles on end with a number of pots in order to fill water. When translated into dance, the women carry seven to nine pots on their heads and perform some of the most exciting feats with grace and ease. The highlight of this dance, besides the balancing of or on objects, is also the depiction of the strength, nimbleness and absolute grace in the posture of the women as they travel back and forth each day from the communal well.

This dance is especially colorful due to the bright and vivid hues of the performers’ costumes. This is so because, the culture of the Rajasthani people is to add color to the aridness of their surroundings through their clothes and ornaments.

The art of Bagh printing then moved eastwards to Marwar (Rajasthan) and later to Manavar (Madhya Pradesh) with the migration of the craftsmen.  Over time, the style of Bagh Printing has evolved and attained uniqueness. The present form of Bagh printing actually started in 1962 when the craftsmen migrated from Manavar to the neighboring town of Bagh situated in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh and hence Bagh has always been associated with this printing style.
Origin & History
Bagh printing is essentially block printing, which is a technique that has been practiced for several centuries. The earliest evidence of block printing dates back to the time of Alexander the Great, wherein he has specifically mentioned India’s ‘beautiful printed cotton’. However, there is some evidence that goes onto prove that block printing was also prevalent in the Indus Valley civilization, hence the practice of using printing blocks for textile printing can be dated as far as 3000 BC.

Sources of Inspiration
Bagh printing basically involved blocks that are carved onto motifs that represent flora such as Jasmine, Mushroom, lehariya and so on. There are some prints that were inspired by the jaali work that embellished the Taj Mahal and various other forts. Inspiration is also drawn from the landscapes and geometrical figures. The motifs evoke various moods in the serenity of the prints and that is the catchy element of Bagh prints.Bagh village is the place where Bagh printing is sourced and exclusively conducted. It is basically controlled and operated by five-six Muslim Khatri households of Bagh who are also the proprietors of the manufacturing facilities at Bagh. The artisans who are adept at the craft in these facilities are from various communities such as Teli, Bhillala, Bhil and Rajput. The Bagh prints are basically floral and geometrical patterns and the blocks for Bagh printing are crafted with great skill by block makers that reside in Pethapur, Gujarat.

Bagh prints’  are an all time favorite in the Indian subcontinent primarily because the material is very comfortable and soft. There is a variety of Bagh printed merchandise that is commonly found such as bed covers, cushion covers, table covers, runners, mats, ladies suits and sarees, kurtis, dupattas, skirts and dresses amongst other things.  A lot of trendy and contemporary prints are now being used by the Bagh printers along with more fabrics apart from Cotton such as Silk, Crepe, and Tassar with fabulous results.  Bagh prints are very fashionable and people are developing a new connect with this beautiful art form which is a part of the rich Indian textile heritage.  Eco-friendly in nature, since Bagh prints make use of vegetable dyes, this art is gaining a lot of recognition worldwide and indigenously too, with the Government taking initiatives in trying to support and reform this craft.

Innovations
Bagh prints have become increasingly popular from its erstwhile status of being nearly forgotten.  Traditionally, this printing style was used for a few products such as lehengas and sarees, whereas now it has innovated and expanded its range to bed covers, dupattas, dress materials, curtains, table cloths and much more. This craft is also gaining recognition as an eco-friendly technique and therefore Bagh printing is making forays into foreign markets by experimenting and evolving to satisfy their global clientele.

Maintenance
Bagh printed fabrics are washed three times before being sent out to the market. Generally color does not leak from the fabric; however, it is advisable to get the fabric dry cleaned the first time. It can be lightly washed later on and is not difficult to maintain.

Global Wearability
Bagh textiles are usually cotton based and very soft. These are an all time wear as they can be used in all seasons and climates. A lot of international attention is being given to Bagh printing due to its eco-friendly production process and Bagh printed merchandise has a huge market abroad.
Accessorizing

Bagh prints are very trendy, particularly because they can give a very nice ethnic twist that exudes simplicity yet sophistication. From scarves, dupattas, and kurtas to patialas and salwar- Bagh prints can be mixed and matched to give a trendy casual look.

Bronze Jewelry

 Bronze Jewelry
Bronze is an alloy majorly containing copper. It is extensively used in making handicrafts and jewelry. Before copper, Gold and silver were the only metals that were being used to carve jewelry. The bronze jewelry exuded the kitschy gold effect while maintaining a reasonable price range. The Bronze Age brought along with it beautiful and exquisite pieces of jewelry that charmed its way through many centuries and eras.During the Bronze Age most women wore earrings, neck-pieces, and other ornaments made out of bronze. The jewelry highlighted the bronze era along with the growing love for this metal among women. What made bronze interesting was that it was an alloy made of copper and tin and, possessed the desirable characteristics of both these metals. One just fell in love with the bronze made artifacts and, the love possessed them completely.

Origin & History
When the Bronze Age was established, it definitely became a highly appreciated metal among people of that Age. It’s no wonder that during that era, bronze became a desirable metal for jewelry also. Most jewelry during that time was a work of craft that produced artisan jewelry designs.

The exact date or, period during which the Bronze Age came into existence cannot be determined, but most people claim that it was introduced during the Mesopotamian Era. It was simultaneously introduced to India around the same time. Bronze is definitely one of the oldest and classiest metals for jewelry available in India. If one goes by the historical evidence and artifacts, one can see that most of the beautiful and exquisite pieces of jewelry were made out of bronze. The sensuality of the copper color made bronze a beautiful, timeless and exquisite source of art and craft, which still prevails in India.

Style
Bronze Age produced a unique style among jewelry designers. The initial jewelry pieces were similar to the metal jewelry. This style was adopted during the Mesopotamian ages, but gradually bronze started coming across as one of the best metals for imitation jewelry. A lot of designers started working towards styling the metal to create exquisite jewelry. Some of the recent bronze jewelry collection matches the needs of the modern world. Of course, traditional designs are still very much in fashion but, the modern world desires a bit more style even in traditional jewelry.

These days one can find several forms of jewelry which is a combination of both silver and gold imbibed with bronze which look unique and stylish at the same time.

Influence over the Years
The Bronze Age was an era that defined the existence of bronze across several artifacts including pottery, sculptures etc and different cultures and traditions influenced the design of bronze over this era as well. Every single culture that bronze passed through including the Greek and Roman cultures had a definite influence on this metal and on the jewelry made out of it. What ultimately reached the Indian territories was an amalgamation of various concepts and designs combined.

Innovations
Bronze as a metal has gone through various innovations and these days one can find exquisite pieces of jewelry which showcase traditional and royal appeal, especially the kind that have an ethnic and Indian touch. The most common and popular forms of Bronze jewelry these days are big chunky bangles, over sized rings, heavy pendants that hang off thick bronze chains, and funky looking neck pieces as well. Bronze is a type of metal that complements all skin tones and looks fabulous on all kinds of people regardless of their attire. It is also the type of jewelry which looks ornate, stylish and classy, while at the same time understated.