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 • A Tale of Crafts

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

As per historical records, India has had a long-st As per historical records, India has had a long-standing tradition of building large boats. From Bengal to Gujarat, and from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, one can find technically sophisticated and well-constructed watercraft that reflect the diverse regional expertise in boatbuilding.  History often reveals fascinating insights. During the Dogra rule in Kashmir, Srinagar was designated as the capital of the Dogra territory. Maharaja Ranbir Singh imposed several restrictions on house construction in the valley. Foreigners were neither allowed to rent nor purchase land for building hotels. In 1897, Swami Vivekananda visited Kashmir at the invitation of the Maharaja, intending to select a site for the establishment of a monastery and a Sanskrit college. However, around mid-September, he was disappointed to learn that the official discussions regarding the site he had chosen were twice vetoed by the British Resident.  The British, however, found a loophole in the land restrictions and introduced the concept of the “floating camp.” Thus, the idea of the houseboat was born. These floating homes soon came to be known as “each one a little piece of England afloat on the Dal.” General Denloff of the British Army had a Doonga boat named Mermaid built for himself, and is believed to be the first to sketch a houseboat featuring wooden walls, windows, and a deck.  Early European houseboats were often given grand names such as HB Duke Wells or New Buckingham Palace. The first settlers on the water were primarily fishermen, making riverside living both logical and practical. Their traditional boats, originally topped with thatched roofs, gradually evolved into the Doonga boats. Over time, these transformed into Doonga houseboats, some featuring terraces spaces designed for sunbathing, enjoying breakfast, or candlelight dinners. These traditions continue to thrive even today.
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Read More ~ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/shikara-boat-making-kashmir
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#shikara #boatmaking #srinagar #craftsofindia #indialove #gaathahandicrafts  Image- Painting depicting the city of Srinagar by the Jhelum river by Bishen Singh (1836-c1990)
Indigenous Impressions ~ Block Printed Cotton Sare Indigenous Impressions ~ Block Printed Cotton Saree
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Buy here ~ https://shop.gaatha.com/shop-hand-block-printed-cotton-sarees
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Every Bagru print saree is a canvas of individuality. Crafted using traditional hand-block printing, each piece boasts one-of-a-kind patterns that reflect your personal flair.  #cottonsaree #blockprintedsaree #sareelove #summerfashion #gaathahandicrafts #sareestyle #comfortablefashion
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
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