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India has a rich heritage, and the tradition is evolutionary for centuries. It is evident through the handicraft items. Handicrafts mirror the cultural identity of the people making them. Handicrafts exist in India for ages, and some are well-known such as the Kashmiri carpets, terracotta, Zari embroidered fabrics and silk fabrics, and ceramic products. The handicrafts exported to countries include Africa, Europe, East, and West Asia.
Indian handicrafts are timeless wealth and carry the magnetic appeal of the culture. It is surviving through ages and promises beauty, exclusivity, style, and dignity. It is about processing materials using hand and simple tools that keep the products natural and facilitate recycling. Handicraft contributes to preserving many Indian traditions. Many artisans rely on these manual skills.
Role and Significance of Indian Handicrafts
Handicrafts in India represent the culture and traditions of each region. They help preserve this heritage and rich art form associated with the lifestyle and history of the people and their traditions. The wooden handicrafts, the meenakari, the marble works, and a lot more are crucial for economic development. It provides employment opportunities.
List of Handicrafts in India
Pashmina Shawls (Kashmir)
Kashmir is the place that has the first woven textile, and Pashmina is the finest wool type. It is created using cashmere wool, and the shawls are hand-processed. The shawl production involves weaving, spinning, and finishing, through dedicated craftsmen and women. It takes 180 hours and is in a variety of colours featuring exquisite embroidery. It is soft and ensures warmth.
Brass Handicrafts (Rajasthan)
Brass is a good material known for its durability and is widely used in handicraft items. The metals are used for different items such as vases, tabletops, god figures, perforated lamps, ornament boxes, wine glasses, and lots more. There are unique and antique designs for the chairs, swings, side-boards, and so on as decoration.
Bamboo Handicrafts (East India)
Indian handicrafts are eco-friendly crafts. They are made from bamboo and are the oldest crafts. Artisans create the best decorative bamboo items for gifts and household purposes. The bamboo handicrafts present excellent craftsmanship and include mats, crossbows, dolls, jewellery, wall-hangings, and lots more. One can find these wooden handicrafts in the West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura states.
Lippan Kaam (Kutch)
‘Lippan kaam’ refers to mirror and mud work. It is the traditional craft of Kutch. It presents a distinct style using wild ass and camel dung as the binding agent. Mud and clay are taken in equal proportions, while it looks stunning with embroidery patterns and mirrors.
Madhubani Art (Nepal and Bihar)
Madhubani or Mithila painting is a style of art practised in the Mithila region, Nepal, and Bihar, India. The paintings are done using fingers, twigs, matchsticks, brushes, and nib-pins, and there are geometrical patterns that are attention-grabbing. The paintings are about occasions, festivals, birth, marriage, puja, and so on.
Phulkari (Punjab and Haryana)
Phulkari is embroidery that represents flower works and is complex designs. Initially, the embroidery was used on shawls and headscarves. The flower work is done explicitly on fabrics and has a bright and colourful embroidery. It is incorporated on jackets, bags, slippers, table-mats, cushion covers, dresses, and more.
Marble Stone Craft (Agra)
Uttar Pradesh gained popularity for its handicraft items and stone carvings. The royal traces were seen in intricately carved forts and palaces that presented an elegant combination of engraving, carving, undercuts, and sculptures. The craftsmen use soapstone and marble, while these handicrafts are exquisite and in great demand due to their intrinsic works. They create boxes, earrings, and bangles.
Bidri (Karnataka)
Bidar refers to manufacturing unique metal handicrafts, and Birdiware is famous and distinct for its metal usage and striking artwork. Bidri, the metal is an alloy of zinc and copper, featuring pure silver fine sheets. It is one of the prominent Indian handicrafts of Karnataka and is a symbol of wealth. The handicrafts include bangles, pitchers, masks, statues, buttons, boxes, and lots more. The beauty is that they inlay flowers, leaves, geometric designs, human figures, and stylized poppy plants with flowers.
Puppetry (Rajasthan)
Puppetry refers to string puppet theatre belonging to Rajasthan and is famous for Indian wooden handicrafts. The strings control the wooden puppets, and this handicraft represents Rajasthani tradition and culture. They present puppet shows highlighting moral and social education or the social problems.
Leather (Maharashtra)
The leather manufacturing tradition is not new in India. Earlier, leather was in use as footwear and garments by the old sages. People make shields, bags, tops, saddles, and lots more with leather. Madhya Pradesh is well-known for its shoes, bags, and clothing in leather.
Pattachitra Art (Odisha)
Pattachitra is a traditional handicraft from Odisha. They represent Hindu deities and are based on Hindu legends and myths. The colours used in the paintings are traditional. The art form represents thousands of themes from Mahabharata and Ramayana. The artwork is a blend of folk and classical elements.
Terracotta Works (Assam)
Terracotta works refer to the making of statues and figurines using earth, mud, or clay. Assam has this ancient culture of designing pots, toys, artefacts, dolls, and vases. The concentration of these handicraft items is high in the Dhubri, Goalpara Assam district.
Shells (Odisha)
Indian handicrafts vary by nature. The craftsmen make bangles, forks, chandeliers, curtains, bowls, and more, using shells.
Gond Art (Madhya Pradesh)
Gond is a painting form from folk and tribal art done by Gond artists. They are from Madhya Pradesh and are also in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. The Gond paintings reflect the natural environment and its close connection with humans.
Woodwork- Ethnic Indian Handicrafts
South India has abundant wildlife and forests. The handicrafts have exotic designs revealing artistic creativity. Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is important for rosewood carvings. Karnataka for its images, elephants, and furniture made using rosewood. There are decorative and utility pieces in sandalwood. Kerala uses kumbli wood to carve figurines.
Indian handicrafts contribute to fashion accessories complementing the wearer. There is costume jewellery to compliment the fashion. Accessories help highlight apparel or a dress. They also are visual symbols, besides festive decorations. All the handicraft items in India make perfect decorum.
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