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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Story of Indian crafts and craftsmen
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • What we do
      • Research & Archive
      • Consultancy & Design
      • Curation & Commerce
    • Be a part
    • Contact Us
  • Discover
  • Experience
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    • Indian Words | Etymology
    • Know Your Native (INDIAN TRIBE)
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Crafted with Love

14Oct

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About Gaatha

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.handicrafts

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

There is no room for error in Patola, and perhaps There is no room for error in Patola, and perhaps that is where its beauty lies. This sling-clutch reflects that unwavering commitment, where every detail has been accounted for long before it appears. ~ #ClutchBag #DesignerClutches #PrelovedLuxury #handmadeluxury #gaatha
Some of you may have heard of me before, and some Some of you may have heard of me before, and some of you may have not. I am “juggernaut”, a word used to describe a powerful, unstoppable, overwhelming force that moves forward regardless of obstacles. You may think, “That’s powerful,” and you would be right, because my story is just as powerful as my meaning. I was not always this word, I was born from something far more sacred. The grand Rath Yatra of Puri, of Lord Jagannath, meaning the “Lord of the Universe” (jagat meaning world and nātha meaning lord), a form of Lord Krishna worshipped as Vishnu. During this vast procession, massive wooden chariots are pulled by thousands of devoted hands. These chariots are enormous, and once set into motion, they are difficult to control, moving forward with immense force and momentum. When British observers first witnessed this spectacle, they were astonished; they had never seen anything so grand, so powerful, so unstoppable. To them, these chariots became symbols of inevitability and immense strength, and from their awe and interpretation, I (juggernaut) was born. In the 14th century, the traveler Friar Odoric reported that some worshippers deliberately allowed themselves to be crushed beneath the chariot’s wheels as a sacrifice to Vishnu. This account was likely an exaggeration or misinterpretation of actual events, but it spread widely across Europe. The tale captured the imagination of English listeners, and as a result, some began using me to refer to an enormous entity with powerful crushing capabilities. Today, I exist far beyond my origins. A fictional character was made by Marvel Comics, inspired by me - called JUGGERNAUT. Thus, I am a word rooted in sacred tradition, shaped by colonial perception, and transformed into a modern metaphor for immense and uncontrollable power. #etymology #storytelling #jagannath #rathyatra #gaathahandicrafts
Loose File Hoodies bring together comfort, style, Loose File Hoodies bring together comfort, style, and roots. Crafted in pure cotton, every hoodie features layered appliqué, hand-printed fabric, and fine embroidery. Designed as everyday wear with a story😼, each piece carries Indian narratives into contemporary streets. Choose one for yourself, or gift it to someone who understands its soul. 💐
If you restrict your creative expression, it cease If you restrict your creative expression, it ceases to be truly creative. In graphic composition, we often emphasise a clear visual language. It may be based on 90° lines, grids, and minimal motifs to create a modern, architectural feel, or on curves, intersecting lines, and nature-inspired elements to evoke something organic, traditional, and expressive. We tend to believe that these languages exist separately and should not be mixed. However, Indian visual language makes space for everything. Temple carvings are a beautiful example of this aesthetic, where floral, geometrical, and flowing forms coexist harmoniously. Look closely and you will realise how many conventional rules are broken. This richness is not limited to carvings; it is equally visible in saree designs, where a variety of graphical elements come together like an orchestra, each distinct yet perfectly in tune. ~ #visuallanguage #graphicdesign #designelements #gaathahandicrafts #creative
You use me everyday to wash your hair, but have u You use me everyday to wash your hair, but have u ever wondered about my origin, how did I came to being? For ages, I have existed in India, long before I was bottled and placed on your shelves. I was not always what you know me as today. I began as champi, or tel malish—a gentle ritual of warm oil and soothing hands.  Champi was a way of healing, relaxing, and restoring. This act of massaging the scalp with care turns an everyday act into a quiet moment of comfort. Earlier, Reetha, Amla, Hibiscus, and Shikakai- herbs that cleansed and nourished long before foam and fragrance arrived- were used for cleaning hair in India. Far away in Europe, washing hair was not common; people focused more on styling, using ingredients such as vinegar, eggs, rum, or oils. But I travelled across seas with Sake Dean Mahomed, who introduced this practice in Britain through vapour baths and therapeutic massages in the early 19th century. These Indian medicated vapoured baths were used as a cure for many diseases. There, I slowly began to change. From a massage, I became a method of washing, and in 1762, I was given the name “Shampoo.” Over time, I transformed further with science. In 1904, I appeared as a powdered mix, in 1927 as a liquid, introduced by the German chemist Hans Schwarzkopf. By the 1970s, I had become part of everyday life. Yet even today, beneath the foam and fragrance, I carry my origins—a story of touch, care, and quiet healing that began not in a bottle, but in human hands. #sampoo #champi #etymology #gaathahandicrafts #storytelling
Color is nature’s music…🎶 and when paired just rig Color is nature’s music…🎶 and when paired just right, it creates something truly worth keeping. Stitch a kurta in your own style, pair it with a dupatta, and let the tassels sing for you. Add a touch of effortless cheer to your day with these gentle symphonies.🥀 #handloomlove #zariweaving #suitset #ethinicstyle #gaathahandicrafts
Draped in the grace of Maheshwari silk, she carrie Draped in the grace of Maheshwari silk, she carries a legacy of resilience. Her presence celebrates a journey where patience prevails and the beauty of life unfolds with every passing moment. ~ #handloomsaree #silksarees #sareelove #gaathahandicrafts #handloomlove
Since ages, I have been living in India, even befo Since ages, I have been living in India, even before you arrived. My roots hang down like the dreadlocked hair of a yogi. Sitting beneath me in the Indian heat brings a quiet, pleasant relief. My wide shade welcomes everyone. Travellers, traders, wanderers, and children have all rested here. People know me as Vad or Vat Vriksha. My scientific name is Ficus benghalensis. In Hindu belief, I am sometimes associated with Yama, and in folklore I am also believed to be an abode of spirits. At the same time, I represent spiritual aspiration and the idea of immortality. Visually I am hard to ignore, and over the centuries I have heard countless important conversations. My shade offers space for people to sit, talk, and gather. The city of Vadodara is believed to derive its name from me, from the word Vatodar, meaning “in the heart of the Vad.” It is also said that the Bombay Stock Exchange, one of Asia’s oldest stock exchanges, began under a banyan tree in Mumbai, where traders once gathered to do business. An interesting twist came to my name when traders from the Portuguese Empire arrived in India. They often saw Baniyas or Vaniyas, members of trading communities, sitting beneath my shade discussing deals. Seeing this again and again, they began calling me the “Baniya tree.” Over time, the name changed, and I came to be known as the Banyan tree. But this is only the story of a name. Like any other tree, I make no difference between humans, birds, animals, or even insects. Everyone is welcome beneath my shade. ~ #etymology #gaathahandicrafts #storytelling #indianculture #banyantree
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