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.

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Crafted with Love

14Oct

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Gaatha brings to you, traditional handicrafts and the culture behind them, directly from the very home of the Indian artisan.
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Gaatha • A Tale of Crafts

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Shop | Handmade treasures from the heart of India
Discover | Woven narratives through craft documentation

New post: Charpai ~ The Quiet Pulse Beneath Open S New post: Charpai ~ The Quiet Pulse Beneath Open Skies
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On drowsy afternoons, when even the birds fell silent, bodies sought me out. The ceiling-fan’s low hum mingled with cardamom drifting from the kitchen while dust motes pirouetted in shafts of light. I would creak softly—a sleepy uncle shifting, a child bouncing, a farmer stretching the ache from his shoulders.
When the heat grew unbearable, they carried me beneath the neem tree. Twilight summoned the elders, and they gathered cross-legged on my back, reliving the monsoon of ’72 or the wedding procession that once rattled past the temple in borrowed splendour. They balanced tea glasses on my edge without spilling a drop, tucked jaggery into their cheeks, and let sweetness linger on every story.  Language remembers me, as does laughter. You have spoken of me often—even when you didn't realize it. Whenever things go haywire and tempers flare, you exclaim, “Khatiya khadi ho gayi!” As if I, your faithful companion, have rebelled. When laziness creeps in, you say, “Khatiya tod raha hai,” blaming me again, as if I tempt you into rest. And when someone passes away, it’s me who carries them for the last time—soft ropes groaning under grief, and no one ever forgets to say, “Uski khatiya utha li gayi.”  Idioms are my shadows. In Bundelkhand, when someone mysteriously disappears, villagers murmur, “Charpai chhup gayi hai kya?” In Rajasthan, when the weight of guilt or fate burns too deep, someone sighs, “Khaat ke pair jalein hain.” And when I, even the humble charpai, deny you shelter, they say, “Charpai ke neeche bhi jagah nahi milti.”  Read more ~ https://gaatha.com  #craftenthusiast #craftslove #indiandesign #gaathahandicrafts #indialove #nostalgia #gaatha #traditionalpractices
Traditionally, Gadwal sarees are worn during signi Traditionally, Gadwal sarees are worn during significant religious functions, festivals, and rites of passage, including weddings, naming ceremonies, housewarmings, and temple processions. What distinguishes them for such use is not only their aesthetic beauty but also the symbolic language embedded in their construction—the juxtaposition of cotton and silk mirrors the spiritual philosophy of combining simplicity and grandeur. The cotton body keeps the wearer grounded and comfortable in the South Indian heat, while the silk borders and rich zari pallu elevate the garment to divine proportions, making it ideal for auspicious gatherings. In a Telugu wedding, it is not uncommon to see the bride adorned in a Gadwal saree during one of the many rituals, especially the pelli Kuturu ceremony.  Read more - https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/saree-weaving-gadwal/  #sareeweaving #handloomsofindia #handloomsaree #craftmanship #craftdocumentation #gadwal #gaathahandicrafts
Dabu Cotton Saree ~ Some colors don’t just pleas Dabu Cotton Saree
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Some colors don’t just please the eyes—they soothe the soul. Indigo is one of them.
This summer, wrap yourself in the calm of cool tones and the comfort of cotton. Handcrafted using the traditional Dabu mud-resist technique, this saree is more than just beautiful—it's a statement  
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https://shop.gaatha.com/buy-indigo-hand-block-printed-cotton-saree  #cottoncomfort #cottonsaree #gaathahandicrafts #gaatha #indigosarees #summerfashion
The origin of dance is as old as humanity itself. The origin of dance is as old as humanity itself. It can be as simple or as intricate, but one thing is certain, it brings joy, energy, and devotion.
Bharata Muni dedicated himself to the development of the performing arts and composed the Nāṭyaśāstra, an immensely valuable and practical treatise. The Nāṭyaśāstra is considered the earliest known text on this art form. This grand work is not limited to drama alone, it encompasses dance, music, poetics, prosody, and aesthetics, making it a foundational text across disciplines. For this reason, it is honored as the Panchama Veda-the Fifth Veda.  #danceday #kathakali #traditionaldance #dancelover #gaathahandicrafts #natya #indialove #indianculture
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