Indian handicrafts have stood tall for 1000 years or even more in terms of ancient crafts. The rich and boastful legacy of traditional Indian handicrafts has withstood the test of time and still defines the various regions from where they originated. Despite facing difficulties like the lack of monetary returns, these art forms have not lost their glory and bear testimony to India's rich cultural heritage.
Let's have a look at the traditional art forms still sustained in India:
The Jaali Style Kashmiri Windows
If you have visited Srinagar, it is unlikely that you will miss the unique geometric shapes of the Kashmiri 'jaali' also called 'pinjra'. Jaali woodworks are found in beautifully handcrafted columns, arches, and porches of doors apart from the panels in the ceiling. Jaali is a Hindi word that means net. A latticework in wood, metal, and stone they are standing testimony to the artistic skills of the local Kashmiris.
2. Bidri Art
Karnataka’s Bidri artwork is a 7th-century-old art form, a special form of metal craft, an alloy of copper, lead, tin, and zinc, used as a surface to be inlaid with gold and silver. This metal craft from the Bidar region in Karnataka was developed during the time of the Bahamani kings, in the 14th CE.
3. Pati Sheets made from cane or murta plants in Bengal and Bangladesh are called ‘Pati’. Pati with artistic patterns or Naksa is known as Naksa Pati . The material used is slow in absorbing heat and thus stays cool even in the midst of scorching summer heat. This amazing characteristic of providing a cooling comfort earned it the name Sital Pati, a very popular household name in Bengal until the air conditioners took over. As initiatives were taken in recent times to incorporate the style in different forms like bags, hats, coasters, etc, the Pati art form received new oxygen to sustain.
4. Phad Painting
Phad is an indigenous 7oo-year-old scroll painting style of Rajasthan, depicting the folk narratives of the region. A unique blend of Mughal and Rajput styles of painting, Phads were a kind of portable temple carried by priest-singers of the Rabari tribe singing and performing stories of local deities- Pabuji and Devnarayan. These paintings are to be rolled out after sunset for performances in front of the village members lasting entire nights, hence giving the name, 'Phad’ which means ‘fold’.
Attempts are currently being made to revive this art form through shows by expert artisans, prominent among them being the illustrious artist, Shree Laal Joshi (awarded Padma Shri) and the rest of the Joshi family.
5. Sholar Kaaj
A century-old folk culture particular to west Bengal, Sholar kaaj refers to the art of making decorative patterns sculpted from the soft, porous stem of the shola or pith plant. But the invasion of plastic along with the rapid reduction of marshlands pushed this form of craft almost to the edge of obsolesce. But solely on the craftsman’s persistence, the craft has survived and also earned international recognition and patronage.
6. Dokra Craft
This is an extremely ancient craft of India, dating back to almost 4500 years in the city of Mohenjodaro. The craft received its name from the nomadic tribe called ‘Dhokar Dhamar’ and it is presumed that the artform spread its wings through them. This craft is nowadays nurtured by the artisans residing in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh. Dokra or Dhokra is a metal crafting technique to create bronze sculptures and figurines, almost similar to the lost wax technique that metal sculptors used back in the times of ancient civilization. Though the initial acknowledgment of this craft was limited to Bengal’s art lovers, In recent days its unique style and form soared high popularity around the world.
7. Ajrakh
An almost forgotten legacy of the art style of the Indus Valley, Ajrakh printing is resolutely reviving itself in textiles. Historical evidence says that Ajrakh art is native to the Sindh region of Pakistan, the Kutch region of Gujarat, and Barmer of Rajasthan. The name Ajrakh refers to the chief colour of the style, blue in Arabic. This is the celebration of nature with an aesthetic blend of colours and motifs. traditionally, the four colours used are red (alizarin), blue (indigo), black (iron acetate), and white for resist which is printed on the cloth to outline the design motifs that will be white. For printing each colour, the entire fabric is dyed and the design part is blocked with resist.
8. Pattachitra
Pattachitra, the traditional scroll painting of Odisha, originated as early as the 12th century and is renowned as the oldest living art form. The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit word 'Patta' meaning canvas and ‘chitra’ meaning art. This art form is well known for its intricate details as well as tales of Hindu mythology and folktales inscribed on it. One of the main features of Pattachitra is the use of natural colours like indigo for blue, sindoor for red colour, chalk dust for white etc.
9. Goynabori
Intricate patterns made out of dried rice dumplings, also known as Noksha bori is a traditional art from West Bengal. Requiring hours of hard work, there is every possibility of this art form getting lost. However, the bori-making experts of Midnapore, are trying hands down to pass their skill on to the next generation. Boris is accompanied by lentils and rice or they can be consumed fried. Covered with a sprinkle of posto or poppy seeds, the designs are extremely artistic, even going on to create alpona motifs.
10. Khovar Art & Sohari Art Khovar is a tribal art having a history of more than 5000 years and originated among the tribal populace, Khovar refers to the decoration of marriage chambers and Sohrai is the harvest painting on mud houses, repaired after the rains and offering thanks to the forces of nature. Sohrai art is dated from 3000 to 7000 BC and originates from the Hazaribagh district. The word ‘Sohrai’ is derived from the Mundari tribe which means ‘to beat with a stick’, especially the livestock. Indeed, the festival of Sohrai is held to thank the livestock. The mud dwellings of the resident tribes are rebuilt and painted Sohrai Painting. Natural earth ochres are used for painting motifs of birds, flower,s and animals. We spoke to you about traditional Indian handicrafts and why they are famed throughout the country. Rich in traditional glory, these crafts speak of India's rich heritage and culture. Similarly, we at Desi Feriwala have captured in illustration the traditional heritage of India be it through cycle rickshaws, Shahid Minar, and even auto-rickshaws. Come visit us at www.desiferiwala.com and take your pick from our range of coasters, notebooks, and other stationery items.
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