Handicrafts of India

अभिनन्दन from Gaatha

Gaatha project was originally conjured only for researching and documenting the rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and heritage. However, we soon learnt from the artisans themselves that need was not to do research alone, but to restore ‘pride and serious commercial opportunity’ in their ecosystem. Today Gaatha thus aims to bring the lost respect and wealth back to these beautiful and aesthetically rich Indian handicraft clusters. These researches are important because just like Industrial goods sell on ‘features’, crafts sell on the processes / stories / heritage that go into making them.

We should give crafts a fair chance, someone is right now merrily making something for us, singing a folk song, in a humble house, deep inside India.

Buy: Indian Handicrafts Online
Research & Archive: Indian Crafts

11Dec
Articles, Process, Tale

Immortal Bones (Bone Carving)

The art of bone carving goes back to pre-historic times, when each & every part of the hunted animal was used & it was believed that a part of the departed soul stays with them forever. Bones were used for making ornaments & utility articles.
6 mins read
20600 Views
14Jun
Process, Tale

Leaving Impressions – block carving

Pethapur village in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is a hub of wood block makers, who supply customized blocks to the centres of block printing. Wooden block making has been a popular profession among the inhabitants of Pethapur for about 300 years.
4 mins read
14487 Views
08May
Tale

Winds of Change ~ Indian hand Fan (Pankha)

With the disappearance of the relevancy of this hand fan (Pankha) craft in India, the tradition deeply rooted and tied to India’s craft culture is starting to wither away
7 mins read
23949 Views
30Nov

Know Your Native (INDIAN TRIBE)

KNOW YOUR NATIVE (INDIAN TRIBE) The distinctly peculiar characteristics of indigenous Indian Tribal communities have
31 mins read
0 Views
09Sep
Craftsmen, Process, Tale

Creators of the Creator (bronze casting)

The process of bronze casting is, in itself, a very spiritual experience. A Sthapathi is expected to be well-versed in the Neetisaram, Amaram, Shilpasaaram, and the Dhyan shlokas. He recites these shlokas and lets the aura of God guide him and help conceive the deity’s form in his mind.
9 mins read
14723 Views
Traditional Bagru Artisan
17Jul
Craftsmen, Tale

Amidst Rays of Hope and Sunlight (Bagru)

This verse rang true when they came across a piece of land near Jaipur, soil-rich with the waters from river Sanjaria. They rejoiced and settled down with newfound hopes in the place that would come to be known as Bagru.
8 mins read
12578 Views