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

12Aug
Articles, Tale

The Story & the storyteller!

As old as civilisation, the tradition of narrating stories with the help of puppets has been a great source of entertainment and knowledge. Bringing down stories from generation to generation, the storyteller (sutradhara – holder of strings) acquires a vital role in puppet shows.
14 mins read
14834 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
12916 Views
Doll makers, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh
28Jun
Articles, Process, Tale

From Rags to Riches (Jhabua Dolls)

The uniqueness of Jhabua cloth dolls is evident through the traditional garb that they wear. These dolls, which can even be as tall as a little girl itself are an embodiment of a person belonging to the Bhil tribe.
6 mins read
17943 Views
Harappa seal and jewelry craft
16Jun
Articles, Tale

A Walk through the streets of Harappa

It’s been 5000 years since the Indus Valley civilisation flourished in areas of what is now India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Thousands of years later, we can still witness the various continuities from the past when it comes to designing our accessories even today
6 mins read
38845 Views
Pattu weaving Craft
07Feb
Articles, Process, Tale, Visits

Pattu

People of dhani grow crops such as jowar and bajra for household consumption as well as selling among fellow weavers thereby creating a sustainable lifestyle locally within the village. Apart from farming in summers they also weave Pattu...
5 mins read
21621 Views
23Jan
Articles

Uncommon sense

Do you think ‘common’ sense leads to a loss of ‘sense’? Wikipedia defines ‘common sense’ as a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge things that are shared by (“common to”) nearly all people and can reasonably be expected of nearly all people without need for debate.
5 mins read
12388 Views
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
21769 Views
17Jul
Articles, Visits

Textiles of Andhra

The looms of Pochampalli, Venkatagiri,  Narayanpet and Dharmavaram are well-known for their silk and cotton sarees all over India. Each loom is recognized with its distinct weaving style and variety of fabric.
7 mins read
28474 Views
kashmir handmade bread story
01Nov
Articles, Craftsmen, Process, Tale

Kandur waan…

It is a six inch round everyday breakfast bread. A small ball of dough is spread across a stone platform with the palm dipped in milk. Texturing it with the impression of the fingers, the naan-wai pulls the stretchy dough off the stone and slaps it on the warm oven wall gently. It come out with golden on the upper side and white on the lower and is usually had with butter or jam along with nun-chai.
9 mins read
19086 Views
Women sari weavres Andhra pradesh
20Oct
Articles, Tale

Six yards of play!

Husband & wife weave together on a loom. Simple jacquards are used to make the motifs along with border with an extra weft.
7 mins read
13021 Views