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

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)

22Feb
Process, Tale

Lambani Embroidery

Lambanis, elsewhere known as “Banjaras”, who originally came from Marwar are semi-nomadic people who reside mostly in Southern and Middle India. As with many tribal groups, especially those with a nomadic heritage, there is a modern tendency to either isolate or assimilate.
3 mins read
35691 Views
12Feb
Process, Tale

The Khes of Punjab

Khes is a floor spread and bed covering that is traditionally made of cotton. The thinner ones are used as bed coverings in winter and the thicker ones are used in place of shawls during winters. It is a household craft and is mostly woven by the women folk for their daughters, as an article for dowry.
3 mins read
26151 Views
10Feb
Articles, Tale

Leather puppets of Andhra Pradesh

eather shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh is known as Tholu Bommalata, (Tholu – leather, Bommalata – puppet dance). Two other kinds of shadow puppetry are practiced in Andhra Pradesh, the Sutram Bommalata (String puppets) and the Koyya Bommalata(Wooden puppets). The leather puppets, because of their transparency and jewel like glow, are most popular.
3 mins read
20881 Views
07Feb
Tale

Kutch…Rabari Embroidery

As the type of embroidery on the garment clearly distinguishes the person’s identity, the different communities of Rabaris can be identified from the type and placement of embroidery on their odhanis (veils for head and shoulders)
3 mins read
24474 Views
kutch
04Feb
Articles, Tale

Kutch Embroidery…

Kutchhi women embroider everything from garments to wall hangings, toran, bed covers, bags and even camel decorations. Mirror-work, which is a characteristic identity of Gujarat,
3 mins read
18672 Views
31Jan
Process, Tale

The sweet fragrance of Aggarbatti

The aggarbatti is essentially a thin bamboo stick coated with a paste that burns to give out a fragrance. The paste consists of charcoal and saw dust for combustion, fragrant powder,
4 mins read
12470 Views
19Jan
Tale

Metal Bells of Kutch

The craft is believed to be over a thousand years old, originated in Sindh, (currently in Pakistan). These bells were used to identify cattle. They were tied around the cattle’s neck so the owner would know of their whereabouts.
3 mins read
16858 Views
Salvi craftsmen to Patan
18Jan
Tale

Patan na Patola

Patola silk textiles are produced by resist dyeing of warp and weft threads before weaving, a complex process known as double ikat which is also practiced in other parts of India and abroad. However, 
5 mins read
19384 Views
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