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

Indian craft documentation

Discover: How can we truly understand a product or artwork without knowing its stories and iconography? So, we begin by documenting from the heart, to learn more about ourselves and our connection to everything around us…
Research & Archive – Gaatha.org

Shop: After documenting the craft, we carefully design and handpick masterpieces. Every piece we curate is rooted in authenticity, with care that the benefits flow back to the makers, so they can keep creating, and we can keep admiring, again and again.
Shop online – shop.gaatha.com

What is the meaning of Gaatha?

‘Gaatha’ means a great story. For us, it is the story of the hand and the act of crafting—an act that has played a vital role in developing ‘civil-ness’ within any civilization. The ancient practice of crafting is almost always a reflection of its time… and at times, it is powerful enough to make time itself reflect it.

Gaatha has been working in the craft sector for over 15 years, actively supporting the Indian artisan community by providing a unique platform for their products and voices. It is the transfer of this value system—more than just the handicraft itself—that lies at the heart of the ‘Gaatha’ project.

Above all, we aim to identify and recognize the faceless Artisan.

A TALE OF CRAFTS

(A Blog on Indian Handicrafts | Since 2009)

28Apr

Saurashtra Stitches

Saurashtra Embroidery toran Gujarat is synonymous with colourful embroideries with rich textures, saturated hues and

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3 mins read

16380 Views

18Apr

The Key Maker

A boat maker works on the seaside in a coastal town, the embroiderer creates her

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4 mins read

14367 Views

07Apr

Hide and Seek

Wrinkled brown, sturdy leather, like the cracked parched expanses of the Rann, dotted with multi

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4 mins read

15456 Views

03Apr

Adaptation

Indigo, spices, muslin and ivory – these were the items of luxury exported from India

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4 mins read

15884 Views

31Mar

Sanctum Makers

The Heritage Walk in Ahmedabad starts on a cool morning from the Swaminarayan Temple and

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4 mins read

16027 Views

22Mar

Craftsmen, Process, Tale

Painted Songs

A synesthetic expression…where songs and words dance on canvas, colours and patterns make musical harmonies…

1 Like

4 mins read

17173 Views

11Mar

Articles, Process

An alternate essential

It is only in Kutch that bright colours of richly embroidered garments find the company

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4 mins read

16880 Views

28Feb

Colours, Textures and more…

Every craft has a story to tell, a history, a reason for existence… Some craft

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4 mins read

15034 Views

24Feb

Waking stones

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is home of the great fort described as “the pearl in the necklace

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3 mins read

15435 Views

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gaatha.handicrafts

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

In Indian culture, the umbrella, known as "chhatra

In Indian culture, the umbrella, known as "chhatra" or "chata," transcends a mere accessory to symbolize protection, royalty, and authority. Its significance echoes through ancient texts, with multiple references found in the Ramayana's candas. Banabhatta's Kadambari describes it as slender and elegant, often adorned with intricate goldwork on its handle. Interestingly, the Cullavagga even records an instance where Buddha forbade his followers from using umbrellas, highlighting its distinct status. Umbrellas are consistently depicted in numerous old books and sculptures, cementing their historical presence. For tribal communities, the chata serves as a vital shield. It offers respite from the harsh summer sun and provides crucial shade for farm work during the monsoon. Perhaps the word "chata" itself derives from "chat" (roof), implying that while moving, your "chata" literally becomes your "chat." As monsoon messages signal their arrival, particularly in rural areas, people begin mending their roofs by replacing old grass or tiles. In a parallel fashion, they also repair their chatas by swapping out old leaves for new ones. Venturing into interior regions, one observes communities remarkably adept at self-sufficiency, perhaps due to less complex lifestyles. In stark contrast, urban areas have woven an intricate web of interdependence, leaving us reliant on specialists even for simple tasks like repairing an umbrella. #mansoon #simplelife #sustanableliving #gaatha #gaathahandicrafts #rural_love #rural_love #handmadelove

From petals, roots, and forest’s grace, The ince

From petals, roots, and forest’s grace,
The incense rises, slow in pace,
Its natural scent, serene and true,
Brings peace the way only nature can do.
~
Buy here ~ https://shop.gaatha.com/more-to-love/handmade-ritual-essentials
~
#natural #incence #incencesticks #fragrance #gaatha #gaathahandicrafts #handmade #devine #prayer #naturelovers

The Siddipet Gollabhama Saree is a potent symbol o

The Siddipet Gollabhama Saree is a potent symbol of Telangana’s cultural identity, artisan resilience, and women’s artistry. Its significance flows through meaning — social, economic, spiritual, and aesthetic. Another association can be established with the Telugu Golla caste. It is stated that the Gollas traditionally kept sheep and sold milk and ghī (clarified butter). Possibly due to their occupation, the iconography—or perhaps even the term Gollabhama itself—may have originated from the women of this community who were engaged in the same line of work. The Gollabhama saree stands for celebration of rural womanhood. The central motif—the graceful figure of a Gollabhama or cowherd girl—evokes the pastoral life that has been the backbone of Telangana’s economy and culture. Through every woven or embroidered figure, these sarees pay homage to the labor, endurance, and beauty of the women who historically sustained villages through cattle-rearing, agriculture, and domestic craft. Culturally, wearing a Gollabhama saree asserts a connection to Telangana’s regional pride. After the formation of the new state in 2014, there was a conscious effort to uplift symbols that represented native traditions rather than imported or pan-Indian aesthetics. The Gollabhama saree, along with Bathukamma festival and Bonalu rituals, became icons of self-representation — small but powerful ways through which Telangana’s identity was visually and socially affirmed.
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Read more ~ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/gollabhama-saree-weaving-siddipet/ #weavesofindia #handloomweaving #sareeweaving #craftenthusiast #craftdocumentation #gaatha #gaathahandicrafts #heritagetextiles #gollabhama #siddhipet #sareelove #telangana

बाँसुरी ⠇Bamboo flute ~ Buy here ~

बाँसुरी ⠇Bamboo flute
~
Buy here ~ https://shop.gaatha.com/buy-chhattisgarh-bamboo-flute
~
Step into a world where the revolving flute serves as your guide on a mystical journey. With every turn, it unveils tales of forgotten realms and hidden treasures, inviting you to explore the depths of your imagination. The flute's enchanting melodies resonate with the pulse of the earth, creating a symphony that transcends time and space. Allow yourself to be carried away, where the music intertwines with your dreams, leading you to the heart of your own adventure. #flute #tribalart #tribalmusic #gaatha #gaathahandicrafts #musicinstruments #indialove #triballife

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