DEFINITION OF HANDICRAFTS
Handicrafts are goods predominantly made by hand even though some tools or machinery may also have been used in the process; such goods are graced with visual appeal in the nature of ornamentation of in-lay work or some similar work of a substantial nature; possess distinctive features, which can be aesthetic, artistic, ethnic or culturally attached and are amply different from mechanically produced goods of similar utility” (as per GST Council)
Zari
Zari is an even thread traditionally made of fine gold or silver used in traditional Indian, Pakistani and Persian garments and other materials such as curtains, etc. Zari is woven into fabrics, primarily made of silk, felt or velvet to create intricate patterns. The thread is
Also used as a raw material for Cardoza embroidery, which is one of the oldest and most beautiful embroidery styles of India. It is
Used extensively in clothing and home decoration. Four types of sari are produced in India, namely, real sari, semi real sari, imitation sari and plastic sari.
Main clusters: Surat is the home of sari Industry in India. Other clusters
Producing sari are Bareilly, Varanasi, Agra, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Vadodara, Lather, Jaipur, Barer, etc.
Artisans involved: Surat, which caters about 55%42 of the total sari demand, has over
15,700 sari units, employing about 1.05 lakh artisans43. Furthermore, 50,000 artisans provide support service to the cluster.
Raw material used: Real sari is made of silver and electroplated with gold, whereas
Semi real sari has a composition of copper coated with silver and gold electroplating. Imitation Zari is made of copper electroplated with silver. Plastic sari, is manufactured using metallic yarn. Other materials used for making sari include cotton yarn, silk and art silk.
Real sari is used in costly product; however, its use is limited compared to imitation and plastic
Leather Footwear
The leather industry, including leather footwear, is one of the oldest traditional industries in India. India has a capacity of producing about 900 million pairs of leather footwear and 100 pairs of leather shoe uppers44. Leather and allied industries in India play an important role in terms of providing employment to a large number of artisans and also earn foreign exchange through exports.
Main clusters: The major production centers in India are Chennai and Rapine in
Tamil Nadu), Mumbai in Maharashtra), Agra, Lucknow, and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Jalandhar in Punjab, Delhi, Carnal and Faridabad in Haryana, Kolkata in West Bengal, Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Calicut in Kerala.
Artisans involved: Leather footwear manufacturing employs over one lakh people
Across the country45. According to Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI),2,091 tanneries are functioningg across the country28.
Raw mThe rawrial used: Hides of cattle, buffalo, sheep ,and goats are the main raw materials
Used for leather footwear production. Generally, it takes 7 to 21 days for hides to reach the tannery after the animal has been skinned. Other raw materials used for manufacturing leather footwear are synthetic materials, laces, adhesives, MCR (micro cellular rubber) sheet, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) & TPR (thermos plastic rubber) unit soles.
Manufactured is designed based on market demand and raw material requirement is estimated
Leather (Other Articles)
India is known worldwide for its leather products. In rural areas, hide from cattle and camel is locally cured and after tanning, it is used to make different items. Leather products such as jackets, lampshades, pouches, bags, belts, wallets, and stuffed toys are exported from India in large quanquantitiesather bags & wallets account for maa jor portion of total exports.
Main clusters: Leather products are produced in several regions, as different regions have different leather products to offer. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and UP are the top states in terms of manufacturing (leather products excluding footwear) units. The Council for Leather Exports plans to establish six more leather clusters in the country by 2017.
Artisans involved: The leather industry employs about 25 lakh people47, mostly from weaker sections of society. The country is fan acing acute shortage of human resoThe rawes.
Raw material used: India has plenty of raw materials, as the country haworldof the worlds
Cattle/buffalo,the and 11% of sheep population.
The carpet
Carpet industry is one of the oldest industries in India, and isexport-orientedrt oriented industry. Various kinds of carpets are manufactured in India. These include hawoolented woollen carpetwoolened woollen carpets, woolene woollen durries, and pure silk carpets.
There different designs hold different meanings48: Circle – Eternity
Zigzag – Water and Lightening Swastika – Guiding light in darkness Meandering line – Continuity of life Tree – Bounty
Entire carpet – Emblem of Eternity Entire pattern – Visible world of change
Main clusters: Over the years, various carpet weaving centre have emerged in India.
Eaccenterre has its own competitive advantage. Majocenterses of carpet production are Badoni, Varanasi, Mirpur, Agra, Jaipur, Bikaner, Kashmir, and Pan pat, Gwalior, West Bengal, Uttara hand, Karnataka and Elluru in Andhra Pradesh.
Artisans involved: Indian carpet industry has over 2,500 exporters-cum-manufacturers and two million artisans49.
Raw material used: Major raw materials used for carpet manufacturing are fibre and or yarn form, dyes, chemicals, auxiliaries and ancillary materials.
Rugs & Durries
India is one the leading producers of rugs in the world. Various kinds of rugs produced in India are namda (felted rugs), gabba (embroidered rugs), wooden pile rugs, cotton rugs, etc.
When compared to rugs and carpets, durries are light, often
Reversible, and usually made with cotton. Durries have found daily use in rural villages of India. Different parts of India have localized durrie tradition. The panja durrie is amongst multitude of styles.
Main clusters: Rug production is concentrated in the following regions: Agra, Bhadoi,
Mirpur in UP, Jaipur in Rajasthan, Pan pat in Haryana, and Kashmir in Jammu and Kashmir.
Regions known for durrie making are Pan pat, Bhavani in Tamil Nadu, Navalgund in Karnataka, Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, and Jaisalmer and Barer in Rajasthan.
Artisans involved: –
Raw material used: Generally, cotton and wool are used as primary raw material for durrie
Making. Main tool used is a vertical frame composed of two horizontal beams on which the warp is fitted.
Textile (Handloom)
Handloom industry represents the rich cultural and traditional heritage unique to India. India is a major handloom producer in the world, accounting for 85% of the total production globally53. India produces a variety of products using all kinds of fibres and yarns of varying counts to produce the widest range of products. Handloom contributes 14.6% to the total cloth production in the country (excluding wool, silk and yarn). In 2010-11, handloom production stood at 6.9 billion square meters.
Further, the industry has the largest infrastructure with 23.8 lakh weaving looms54.
Main clusters: There are 470 handloom clusters, of which 230 clusters have more than 1,000 weaving looms. Out of these 230 clusters, 41 clusters have over 25,000 weaving looms55. Major clusters in India are Bahraich, Bhuj, Karimnagar, Patan, Varanasi, Nawan, Shaher, Boudh, etc.
Artisans involved: Handloom industry is second largest employment generator in India, next only to agriculture. It provides employment to the low income sections of the society, with 86 % handloom weavers/workers living in rural and semi- urban areas. As per the Handloom Census of 2009-10, there are 23.8 lakh handlooms, employing 43.3 lakh handloom weavers and allied workers1.
Raw material used: Raw materials cost constitutes a major portion (40-60%) of the total production cost of handloom products. Yarn is the main raw material used in handloom production. Handloom industry consumes a diverse range of yarns from natural viz. cotton, wool, silk, jute to artificial viz. synthetic,
Cellulose and multiple blends of such yarns. Other materials used are chemicals, dyes, etc.
Textile Hand Embroidery
In textile hand embroidery, embellishment is made on fabric with threads and sometimes with other materials. Various types of hand embroideries are practiced in India. Each type of embroidery is different from the other and has its own beauty and significant value. Cardoza, one of such embroidery, is one the world famous textile hand embroidery craft.
Main clusters: In India there are many popular embroidery clusters such as Chikankari and zardozi of Lucknow, katha of Bengal, fulkari of Punjab, kutchi embroidery of Gujarat and kashidakari of Kashmir.
Cardoza has been traditionally prevalent in Lucknow and the six
Surrounding districts of Barabanki, Unnao, Sitapur, Rae Bareli, Hardoi and Amethi. Lucknow zardozi has been accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) registration.
Artisans involved: The Lucknow zardozi cluster supports an estimated 1.75 lakh artisans.
Around 2 lakh people directly involved in the supply and value chain in the cluster. Further, the Chikankari cluster of Lucknow provides employment to
2.5 lakh people.
Raw material used: Basic materials used for this craft are cotton and silk threads of various colours, mirrors, beads, metal wire, cotton, silk, leather, fish skin, teeth, bones, feathers, horn, shells, beetle wings, tassels, coins.
Raw material used for Chikankari embroidery includes untwisted mill yarn (Muga), silk, crepe, organise, cotton, terry-cotton, chiffon, muslin or Tussar Yarn.
Textile Hand Printing
Hand printed textiles is a craft in which cloth is dyed with hand or
Printed using shapes. Various types of hand printing practiced in India are block printing, batik, kalmkari (hand printing by pen) and bandhani (tie and die).
Main clusters:
Process:
Sanganeri style printing
Some of the important centres of this craft are in the states of Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad, Machalipattnam), Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi, Farrukabad), Orissa, Madhya Pradesh (Bagh, Behrongarh, Indore, Mandsar, and Burhanpur), Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Kutch), Maharashtra and Rajasthan (Bagru, Chittroli, Sanganer, Jaipur, and Jodhpur).
Originally natural dyes were used for printing, however, in the current scenario they have been replaced by chemical and artificial colours.
Hand printing is undertaken on both cotton and silk fabrics of varying counts.
Main tools for hand printing (block printing) are wooden/metal blocks of different shapes, paatiya (table padded with jute and covered with cloth on which the fabric to be printed is spread across), brushes (for cleaning the flocks of wax), heating vessel (to maintain temperature of the mendh), indigo vats, steel chisels, and metal sheets.
Block printing is a common art practiced all over India. Steps involved in Mendh Ki chapai (block printing)of Rajasthan are shown below. The process in its entirety takes about 15-20 days. Washing and
Drying are carried out after every step.
Sourcing of raw material
Grey fabric is sourced from Erode in Tamil Nadu.
Wood Carving
Woodcarving is an ancient craft practiced in India long before the age of ancient stone sculptural age. It is the artistic practice of shaping and decorating wooden objects into diverse utilitarian and decorative handicrafts items. The most common varieties of wood used for this craft are teak, sal, oak, ebony, mango, sheesham, etc.
Wood carving is a time consuming process. Small items of carved
Wooden handicrafts may take a week to be made. Large items requiring elaborate carving may take few months for their manufacture.
Main clusters: Saharanpur is world famous for its wood carving and is known as
“Shisham Wood Village” or “Wood City” of India. Other important
Centres of wood carving in India are Manipur, Bhopal, Nagpur, Chennai, Madurai, Mysore, etc. Kashmir is famous for walnut wood carving.
Artisans involved: Number of artisans involved in some of the clusters are59:
Saharanpur: Over 250 artisans and 15 self-help groups (SHGs) Manipur (Kakching): Over 266 artisans and 17 SHGs
Bhopal (Sheopur Kalan): 300 artisans and 25 SHGs Nagpur (Bhandara): Over 300 artisans and 30 SHGs Khairpadar: Over 529 plus artisans and 25 SHGs
Raw material used: Raw materials used for wood carving are wood, babul Gond (gum),
Potassium permanganate, Chandras (lac grains in acid), harmach powder (for an antique finish), wood preservative, varnish, materials for embossing, fevicol, zinc, colours.
Wood Inlay
Indian Wood Inlay / Marquetry is the process of decorating the surface of wood by setting in pieces of material such as ivory (traditionally), bone, plastic, shell or wood of different colours. Products with inlay include doors, jewellery boxes, plates, boxes, bowls, cigarette cases, and figures of animals, especially elephants. This craft form was brought to India from Persia in the 18th century. Mysore is home to heritage structures beautifully adorned using wood carvings with inlay work. Royal Indian processions, landscapes, pictures of Gods and Goddesses, scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana are depicted using shade effects in this craft.
Main clusters: The craft is concentrated in Mysore and Bengaluru in Karnataka.
Other places where this craft is practiced are Bijnor, Punjab, Saharanpur, and Uttar Pradesh.
Artisans involved: As reported in 2005, the craft involved over 2,000 artisans in
Mysore cluster61.
Raw material used: Maadi, lac, champa, yellow fanas, dark red rosewood along with
Plastic and bone, is used for inlay work62. Rosewood is sourced
From auctions at Kushanagar, Tithimathi and Dandeli. Fibre boards are also used to cut down on the cost. Different color woods like white cedar, chill pine, rubber wood, red sandal, jackfruit wood etc. are used to add multiple colours to the art piece. A mixture of wax and charcoal is used to fill fine details.
Wood (Turning and Lacquer Ware)
Wood turning involves the use of lathe on which a rapidly rotating piece of wood is shaped with a chisel to create cylinders spheres or cones. The beauty of this craft lies in painting the smooth wooden shapes. Usually, the turned piece is coated with coloured lacquer. Today, lacquer ware
Production has diversified in response to changing markets. It now includes jewellery, decorative pieces, household utility articles and educational articles such as skipping rope handles, chess sets, pen holders, paper weights and rubber stamp holders.
The softwood lacquer ware toy business is on verge of closure due to government apathy, stringent export norms and rising input costs. The European Union, Australia and the US demand for certifications and eco-friendly compliance markings on this craft.
Main clusters: Etikoppaka in Andhra Pradesh is the hometown of lacquer ware. Other important centres are Ernakulam, Chennapatna, Chitrakoot, Davanagere, Medak, Sankheda, and Varanasi
Artisans involved: The Etikoppaka Mutually-Aided Cooperative Society comprises 165 artisans63.
Raw material used: The industry is totally dependent on forests for the primary raw
Materials. These forest-based products are the wood of the hale tree (or other species like teak, oak, ebony, redwood, rosewood, red cedar, pine, etc.), lac produced by the insect Technadria lacca and the leaves of the talegiri (Pandanus odoratissimus). Synthetic materials used are paints and pigments. Lithophone (compound of barium sulphate and zinc
Sulphide) is used to give opaqueness to the lac.
Furniture
Wooden furniture is the biggest component of the Indian furniture market, accounting for about 65% of the total furniture manufactured in India.
Main clusters:
Although, wooden furniture manufacturing activity is spread across India. Main centres are Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat, and Vadodara in Gujarat, Srinagar in J&K, Jalandhar in Punjab, Sikar in Rajasthan, Cooch Bihar in West Bengal, Bareilly and Ghaziabad in UP
About 300,000 people are employed in the Indian furniture industry.
Wood is the main raw material. Various types of woods are used with popular ones being Walnut, Sandalwood, Teak, Sheesham, Mango, Deodar, Ebony, Redwood, Rosewood, Red Cedar, and Sal. Teak account for 50% of the wooden furniture. Other materials used are adhesives, nails, and finishing materials such as stains, basecoats, glazers, and enamels.
Tools used include hand saw, hand planer, sand paper, hammer, nails, hand drill, chisel, brush, etc.
In Jodhpur64, manufacturing wooden furniture involves the following processes:
Procurement
Wood is procured in the form of planks of 4.5 inch width and 3-6 feet length
Stone Carving
Stone carving is an ancient art, in which pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. India produces an exquisite range of artistic and decorative stone crafts. The industry evolved from stone carvings for temples and mosques to utility items like candle stands, incense stick holders, jewellery boxes, etc.
Main clusters: Stone carving clusters are Agra, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Jaisalmer, Cuttack, Cuddapah, Bankura, Kanchipuram, Patna, Mysore, Rajkot, Gwalior, Puducherry, Mahanandi, etc.
Stone Inlay
Indian artisans are skilled in making cut, shaped, and polished beautiful objects from odd blocks of stone and marble. One of the
Most attractive work of art that comes from various stones is stone inlay work. Marble inlay is one such exquisite art, which is integral part of the cultural heritage of India.
Stone inlay can be broadly divided in three categories:
- Fine inlay – This type of inlay is supremely intricate and involves minimal use of machinery. The skill of the craftsmen is rightly put to test in such type of inlay.
- Medium inlay – This is a little bigger than the fine inlay and
Hence can involve some use of machinery. The designs of this inlay are not very small and the pieces to be inlayed can be of bigger sizes.
- Monumental inlay – This is the largest type of inlay work and is not practiced in India currently Italy being the hub of this craft.
Main clusters: Rajasthan is known for the inlay on table tops, flooring, and wall
Decorative. In Jodhpur, inlay is done on yellow Jaisalmer stone. Agra is famous for Parachinar work which is a very minute and precise inlay work.
Cane and Bamboo
Cane and bamboo act as an alternative to wood which takes more time to grow and is costlier. Cane and bamboo are renewable resources that are abundantly available, especially in the North Eastern Region of the country. Cane is largely used for furniture making, whereas bamboo is used for making jewellery and decorative utility items like lamp-stand,
umbrella handles, partition, screen, flower pots, baskets, walking sticks, tool handles, fishing rods, tent poles, ladders, toys, fans, cups, mugs,
Mats etc. In recent years, uses of cane furniture have considerably increased in different classes of population.
Main clusters: Assam (Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Guwahati, etc.) and Tripura (Agartala,
Nelaghar, etc.) Are recognized as prominent places for cane and bamboo products both nationally as well as internationally. Assam is home to about 50 species67 of bamboo. Other major cane and bamboo handicraft centres are Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh in North Eastern region, West Bengal, Kerala, and Orissa.
Filigree and Silverware
Filigree is an extremely ancient technique dating back to 4000 years ago. The silver filigree work in India encompasses various steps that are required to give the items a perfect grandeur.
Silver filigree work is a style unique in itself. Filigree work is performed on silver and involves significant precision and technicality. The artefacts manufactured comprises alloy that contains over 90% of silver. With changing times, artists have been using new methods to compete in the market.
Main clusters: Two major clusters of silver filigree in India are Karimnagar in
Andhra Pradesh and Cuttack in Orissa. The practice in Karimnagar is about two centuries old. However it is also practiced in Warangal in Andhra Pradesh.
Metal Ware
The metal crafts of India display intricate craftsmanship and fine art in shaping gold, silver, brass, copper into exquisite designed images, idols, jewellery, and utility items. Different categories of handicrafts that come under metal ware are brass metal ware of Moradabad, metal bidri work and bell metal in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and so on. India is the largest brassware producer in the world. Moradabad cluster alone reports ~INR2, 500 crore annual turnover of brassware.
Main clusters:
Major clusters of metal ware are Brassware: Moradabad, Murshidabad, Madurai, Salem, Cuttack and Haryana. Whereas, major centres of bell metal ware are Salem, Cuttack, Murshidabad, and Tiruchirappalli.
Moradabad cluster has 850 export units and 25,000 metal craft industrial units, and is said to house ~29% of the metalwork- artisans in India73.
Bell metal consists of copper, zinc, tin, iron and mercury. Acid.
Basic tools required for making brassware include oven, lathe, hammer, tongs, pincers, files, scrapers, hand operated drill, chisel, vessels, crucible, wax, mallet, hand blower, buffing machine, etc.
The following techniques are involved in bell metal ware74 utensil work:
Bidriware
Bidriware is a metal handicraft that originated in Bidar, Karnataka.
The term „Bidriware‟ originates from the township of Bidar, which
Is still the chief centre of the unique metal ware? It is a form of encrusted metal ware, where one metal is inlaid on to another. Bidri products include a diverse range of objects including hukka bases, bowls, boxes, candle stands, trays, jewellery and buttons.
The craft contains complicated sequences of metal inlay on a zinc and tin alloy base. Bidri has its roots in the Persian technique of inlaying gold and silver on steel or copper. It travelled from Iran to Ajmer in Rajasthan in the 13th century AD, and from there to Bijapur and flourished during the reign of the Deccan Sultanate.
Main clusters: The art is mainly practiced in Bidar in Karnataka and Hyderabad in
Andhra Pradesh. Apart from these, it is also practiced in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.
Jewelry
Jewellery making is considered as the most distinctive and highly artistic
Craft in India. India has well-established capabilities for hand-made jewelry, both in traditional and modern designs. Currently, Indian imitation jewelry market is around INR 8,000 crore, which is expected to reach INR 15,000 crore by 201576.
Main clusters: Major centres of handmade jewellery are Delhi, Moradabad, Sambhal, Jaipur, Kohima (Tribal), Nellore, Mysore, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, etc.
Pottery and Clay Objects
Pottery has been called the lyric of handicrafts because of its irresistible and universal appeal. There is a wide range of pottery and clay crafts in India.
Some of the most popular forms of pottery include blue pottery, black and red pottery, roulette ware, and dull red & grey ware. The craft faces severe competition from industrial goods made up of aluminium and plastic.
India has a rich tradition of clay crafts and pottery throughout the country. Asharikandi in Assam is the largest cluster in India, where terracotta and pottery craft is found. Other clusters are Bhadrawati, Bulandshahar, Nizamabad, Pune, Chandrapur, etc.
Potters is the fourth largest amongst the artisanal groups in India. It is estimated that about 10 lakh people79 are involved in this craft.
The main raw material for this craft is ordinary clay, derived from the beds of water bodies. One major challenge for the potters is the rapid depletion of suitable clay. Water, catechu, red-soil, cattle dung, firewood, sand paper, hay, wood, ash, bricks for the kiln etc. are other materials used in pottery.
Musical Instruments
Most of India‟s musical instruments need to be made with precision using very specific materials for different parts of the instrument. Indian musical instruments have high level of structural design and complexities to derive the unique sound for making it rhythmic to extract Indian music. Some of the popular instruments are sitar, flute, shehnai, tabla, sarangi, and ghatam.
Jodhpur, Ranchi, Tiruchirappalli, Vishakhapatnam, and Kolhapur are important centres for musical instruments craft.
Materials used depend on the type of instrument; however, some basic materials used are wood, leather (sheep skin, buffalo skin, and goat skin), twine or cotton thread, brass, ivory and yarn.
Folk Painting
Indian Folk paintings are pictorial expressions of village painters which are marked by the subjects chosen from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Indian Puranas as well as daily events. There are several vibrant folk painting types in India in different stages. They are distinctively different. The styles are related to their folk mythology.
Main clusters: The Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh is engaged in floor and wall painting.
Warli is vivid expression of daily and social events of Warli tribe in Maharashtra. Rajasthan is famous for Phad painting done on cloth. Other types of paintings are Pithora painting in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, Madhubani painting of Bihar, Chitrakar painting of West Bengal, Patachitras in Orissa, and Kalamkari in Srikalahasti (Andhra Pradesh).
Artisans involved:
Raw material used: All the different types of folk painting mainly use mineral colours and
Homemade canvases, if not drawn on walls and floors. Painting on walls and floors is done with help of white rice paste, ochre or yellow earth colours.
Different sands are used to prepare the base for the paintings, geru, kali mitti, etc.
Pithora art requires clay, and designs made from grains, herbs, spices, etc. The paintings may be made on canvas, paper and cloth surfaces.
Coir Twisting
Coir is a natural, eco-friendly, water proof and exceptionally tensile
Fibre extracted from the nuts of coconut palms. It is found in abundance and is used for manufacturing a wide range of eco-friendly toys, mats, brushes, mattresses, wall hangings, key rings, pen stands and other
Home decorative.
Coir comes in 2 varieties: Brown and white. Brown coir (from ripe coconut) is less flexible but stronger and used in sacking, upholstery padding. White coir (from unripe coconut) is finer and weaker and used for making fishing nets, strings, and ropes.
Main clusters: Craft is primarily produced in Orissa (Sakhigopal, Puri, Pipli, Bhubaneswar Batamangala and Kendrapara). It is also produced in Kerala (Ernakulam)
Artisans involved:
Theatre, Costumes & Puppet
This craft involves making objects related to the festivals and for use in performing arts. Puppet is one of such crafts, which has a rich tradition in India. There are four types of puppets – glove, rod, shadow and string. They are differentiated based on the different ways of manipulation of puppets. These types have further varieties under them.
Main clusters: Puppets from different parts of the country have their own identity. These are produced in several states including Odisha (Kundhei nach, Kathi Kandhe, Ravanachhaya), Karnataka (Gombeyatta, Togalu Gombe-atta), Andhra Pradesh (Tholu Bommalata), Tamil Nadu (Thol Bommalattam, Tolpavaikoothu), Rajasthan (Kathputli), Bihar (Yampuri) and Kerala (Tolpavakoothu, Pava-kathakali).
Dolls and Toys
Different regions of India are known for specific toys. The difference lies not only in the availability of raw material, but also in the local culture, idiom and culture. Various types of toys produced in India are clay toys, wood based toys, cloth toys, and palm leaf based toys. Doll making is usually a family enterprise.
Main clusters: Toys and dolls craft is practiced in many parts of India, including
Lucknow in UP , Katwa, Gondalpara, and Krishna Nagar in West Bengal, Khetri, Bassi and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Baliapatna, Siriapur, Barpali in Orissa, Nasik, Nagpur and Mumbai in Maharashtra, etc.
Grass, Leaf, Reed & Fiber
Traditionally, natural fibres have been used in all cultures for making utilitarian products. Different parts of the plant are used for preparing various handicrafts such as footwear, basketry, mats, chik, bags, lampshades, and boxes. Fibbers can be extracted from the bark (banana, jute, hemp, and ramie), stem (banana, palm, and bamboo), leaf (palm, screw pine, sisal, and agave), husk (coir), seeds (cotton), and grass (sikki, madhurkati, benakati, munj).
Main clusters: Fiber is found in many states including Maharashtra (sisal), Kerala (palm leaf, korai grass), Tamil Nadu (palm leaf, korai grass), Assam (shitalpatti), Meghalaya (shitalpatti), Bihar (Sikki and Munj grass), etc.
Major centres of this craft are Almora and Dehradun in Uttaranchal, Goa, Ernakulam in Kerala, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Midnapur in West Bengal, etc.
Weaving
The thread is at one end and weaver at another and pedals in the loom are used to separate the warp threads and fill in the weft yarn and grass sticks. A comb is used
To beat the weft in the warp. Using this process the mat is completed.
Accessorising
The mat is taken off the loom and the ends are cut and covered with fabric.
Finishing
The mat material is also used to make other products using cardboard as a template. Pouches, bags, wallets are lined with cotton and stitched using a sewing machine.
TOP 20 HANDICRAFTS
India is an enchanted place that is known for various societies, dialects, religions, and fine arts. Variety is repeated in the craftsmanship of India also. Every locale has a one of a kind type of specialty that portrays the narrative of its rich legacy and the course of its development. India is richly honored with wonderful handiworks that get consideration around the world. Handiworks are a basic piece of Indian the travel industry that has enamored numerous unfamiliar business sectors.
Properly said, workmanship is the groundwork of the historical backdrop of humanity, and these specialists delightfully make sense of the advancement of the artistic expressions that are the pride of each and every country. Strolling through the rear entryways of India, you would go over a few captivating realities and endearing stories behind each piece that genuinely is an ongoing source of both blessing and pain. How about we assist with reestablishing the rich craftsmanship culture of India by purchasing these neighborhood painstaking work that are safeguarded by the ages of the craftsmans.
Investigate the absolute most wonderful Handiworks of India recorded beneath that portrays the story of craftsman’s work.
Rundown Of Top 20 Most Astounding Painstaking work Of India
Warli Craftsmanship
Puppetry
Cover Winding around
Phulkari
Dhokra
Pashmina Cloaks
Tarakasi
Bamboo Craftsmanship
Zardozi
Earthenware
Madhubani
Pattachitra
Marble Crafted works
Woodwork
Bandhej
Block Printing
Applique
Jute Craftsmanship
Earthenware
Shell Craftsmanship
- Warli Craftsmanship
Warli is a dazzling craftsmanship of India that traces all the way back to 2500-3000 years. This ancestral artistic expression has risen up out of the clans dwelling in the mountains and seaside areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The works of art are basic portrayals with mathematical shapes like circles, squares, and triangles.
Warli Craftsmanship
These shapes are gotten from nature, where the circle addresses the sun and moon while the triangle signifies trees and mountains. Palghar region in Maharashtra is where the fine art is as yet polished and is a wellspring of work for Warli craftsmen.
- Puppetry
Prevalently known as Kathputli, a type of manikin theater started in Rajasthan a while back. Kathputli comprises of two words ‘Kath’ and ‘Putli’ that means a doll made of wood. In any case, the wooden manikins additionally require fabric, cotton, and wires in their development and beautification.
Puppetry
These manikins are moved with the assistance of a string. Manikin theater is acted in fairs and celebrations and by and large portrays stories for instructive and mindfulness purposes. They make lovely trinkets from the areas of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur, and so on.
- Cover Winding around
Cover winding around is one more famous workmanship of India. These hand-woven floor coverings are known for their complicated plans. Uttar Pradesh is the center point for the rug delivering industry in India. The city of Bhadohi houses 500 rug winding around enterprises, which makes it a main rug winding around center point in south Asia.
Cover Winding around
Srinagar, one of the most visited vacationer places in India creates the best quality silk covers that have assembled enormous notoriety all through the world.
- Phulkari
Phulkari is a perplexing weaving method, yet the term is additionally utilized for cloaks and scarves weaved with Phulkari. The striking element of this handiwork is the utilization of lively varieties. Having a goliath mass allure, the handiwork is being reproduced in contemporary ways by the creators.
Phulkari
The spot to buy this impeccable piece of handiwork in India is Amritsar in Punjab where energetic culture is portrayed through the splendid shades of Phulkari strings.
- Dhokra
Dhokra craftsmanship is a one of a kind type of metal projecting rehearsed in Madhya Pradesh and portions of Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. This workmanship is known for its straightforwardness and is fit for creating special things each time.
Dhokra workmanship
The workmanship is utilized to make things like adornments, ashtrays, pen stands, and candle stands.
- Pashmina Wraps
Pashmina wraps are produced using prevalent quality cashmere fleece. The whole course of making the wrap is completed physically and may try and require as long as 10 days.
Pashmina Wraps
This tremendously well known handiwork in India is delivered in the Kashmir valley and is the exemplification of experienced craftsmanship.
- Tarakasi
Tarakasi is the carefully cut craftsmanship found in Cuttack and different pieces of Odisha. The specialty has acquired gigantic prominence and it is utilized predominantly to make adornments.
Tarakasi
Silver is beaten and changed into wires, these wires are then joined to shape delightful handiworks.
- Bamboo Handiwork
This is the most eco-accommodating workmanship to have risen up out of India. Aside from being special, the workmanship is different and faultless. The craftsmanship is utilized to make containers, dolls, toys, furniture, mats, wall decorations, crossbows, adornments boxes, and so forth.
Bamboo Workmanship
The spot to buy these painstaking work in India is West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura.
- Zardozi
Zardozi is a well established fine art that integrates the utilization of silver strings, gold petals, pearls, and valuable stones. The craftsmanship is very famous even today however the gold and silver are supplanted by copper wire cleaned in gold or silver and silk string.
Zardozi
The craftsmanship is well known for its precise and definite way to deal with making elaborate plans. Delhi is where you can find bits of this rich weaving that is well known all over the planet.
- Earthenware
Earthenware means heated earth and is a well established strategy of making painstaking work with mud or dirt. Aside from being eco-accommodating, this specialty is equipped for delivering heavenly pieces. Customarily utilized for puppets, the workmanship is presently used to make toys, pots, containers, dolls, relics, and home style.
Teracotta
Goalpara in Assam and Bishnupur in West Bengal are the movement objections in India where you can accumulate these crafted works.
- Madhubani
Madhubani handiwork is a conventional type of painting well known in Bihar. The eliteness of the craftsmanship lies in the utilization of regular shades and mathematical examples.
Madhubani
The works of art portray the significant occasions and celebrations in Hindu culture and were at first painted on mud walls.
- Pattachitra
Pattachitra is a traditional work of art mixed with society components. The craftsmanship started quite a while back and incorporates scroll painting on bits of fabric. The canvases for the most part portray the accounts of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Aside from the accounts, the works of art of Hindu divinities are additionally very famous.
Pattachitra
Just normal colors and colors are utilized in the making of Pattachitra. The province of Odisha is the spot to buy these handiworks in India.
- Marble Crafted works
The interest with marbles in India began with the Mughal time and is as yet predominant. The specialty is apparent in the praiseworthy antiquated figures and landmarks, for example, The Taj Mahal which portrays the partiality to this stone. Marble and soapstone are cut, engraved, and etched to make impeccable crafted works.
Marble Crafted works
Agra in Uttar Pradesh is the transcendent spot to buy these crafted works in India.
- Woodwork
This workmanship of India is known for making heavenly pieces with top notch wood like Mahogany, Saal, Teak, Black, and Sheesham. The craftsmanship is stand-out and is utilized to deliver reflect outlines, cabinets, furniture, and strict symbols.
Woodwork
Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh is the ideal spot to buy this perfect handiwork.
- Bandhej
Bandhej or Bandhani otherwise called splash-color is a conventional handiwork of coloring texture in the wake of hitching them at better places with the assistance of a string. The craftsmanship is equipped for delivering surprising outcomes and exemplifies the embodiment of the workmanship of Gujarat.
Bandhej
The puts to go a little overboard on massively lovely and best quality Bandhej textures are Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Bhuj, and Mandavi in Gujarat.
- Block Printing
Started from Rajasthan, this craftsmanship has spread to different pieces of India also. It utilizes a wooden block cut with delightful plans and is utilized to engrave those plans on cotton material. The exceptional element of this type of printing is the utilization of regular color and varieties. Block printing customarily has two varieties: Sanganeri and Bagru.
Block Printing
Sanganeri prints are imprinted on a white foundation while the Bagru prints utilize red or dark fabric. Jaipur is specked with handloom stores that sell an elite assortment of block print textures and bed cloths.
- Applique
This weaving method includes sewing little bits of material on a bigger foundation to make faultless plans. This workmanship of India is tedious and requires experienced craftsmanship.
Applique
Pipli in Odisha is the spot to buy this workmanship in India. Utilize a circuit course organizer to design your outing to this little handiwork town.
- Jute Craftsmanship
India is a trailblazer in jute craftsmanship and the jute fairs are visited by numerous occupants and outside Nationals. This craftsmanship of India arose in the significant jute-delivering areas of Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
Jute Craftsmanship
The use of this art has extended to sacks, table cloths, office writing supplies, bangles, and gems.
- Ceramics
The commencement of stoneware can be followed back to Harappan civilization and from that point forward the craftsmanship has crossed over provincial limits and accumulated outstanding development. Each state has given its own touch to the specialty. While the ceramics in Uttar Pradesh is orange and light red, a lot more obscure shades of red and dark are seen in Himachal Pradesh.
Stoneware
Bikaner is popular for painted ceramics, Pokhran for its mathematical plans, Jaipur for its blue earthenware, and Alwar for Kagzi stoneware.
- Shell Workmanship
India is a nation encircled on three sides by water and subsequently, the fixation on shell craftsmanship appears to be legitimate. Shells are utilized to make numerous stunning pieces, for example, light fixtures, bangles, reflect outlines, place settings, and so on.