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
7880 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
7704 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
12438 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
9073 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
11910 Views
25Nov
Articles, Process, Tale

Waves of a Desert…

Kevat community wears only red Bandhani turban at all occasions. Jat community in Narwa village wears a bright yellow turban.
8 mins read
14232 Views