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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Story of Indian crafts and craftsmen
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14Oct

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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

The sky is freckled with kites 🪁 on the day whe The sky is freckled with kites 🪁 on the day when the sun enters the zodiac of Makara or Capricorn. The sun commences its northward journey on Uttarayan (Uttar – North, Ayan – toward movement) and signifies the end of winter. This day is celebrated by sending out kites to the clear blue sky. The kites are of various shapes, sizes and colours, swaying and playing along with the tug of strings in the January wind. The strings hold a significant place too. Manja (kite-string) making is a traditional skill, which is handed down over generations and families jealously guard their secret recipes for the Manja paste.  Learn more at:
https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/handmade-kite-making-ahmedabad/  #gaatha #gaathahandicrafts #kite #kitefestival #uttarayan
Batik becomes a layered memory...wax, colour, and Batik becomes a layered memory...wax, colour, and time working together to leave behind soft fractures and flowing forms on cloth.
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https://shop.gaatha.com/batik-paintings  #indianart #batic #handpainted #gaatha #walldecor
At first glance, you might think this man is skiin At first glance, you might think this man is skiing or wake-surfing. The posture suggests movement, speed, even sport. But look closer, and the setting tells a different story. There is no water, no slope, no gear. So what is he really doing?  He is setting up a saree warp on the street.  This man is a silk-warping specialist, an essential yet often invisible part of the handloom ecosystem. While we usually imagine weaving as the work of a single weaver at a loom, the reality is far more collaborative. Warping is one of the most critical stages of the process, where thousands of fine silk threads are carefully measured, aligned, and tensioned to prepare the base for ten to fifteen sarees at a time. Because this activity requires long, uninterrupted space, it is often carried out in village lanes and streets, using portable tools.  So the next time you buy a handloom saree, remember this man as well. The one who spent hours under the harsh sun, pulling and guiding delicate yarns with precision, ensuring they do not tangle. His effort may not be visible in the final fabric, but it is woven into every thread.  #gaatha #handloomstories #handloomlove #rural_love #skills
Born from clay, awakened by lacquer, this doll emb Born from clay, awakened by lacquer, this doll embodies the joyful spirit of Odisha’s folk culture. Its vibrant surface conceals hours of patient craftsmanship, where tradition meets tender imagination.
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https://shop.gaatha.com/jau-kandhei-lacquered-terracotta-dolls  #teracottaart #traditionalart #gaatha #tabledecor
A Phulkari shawl moves like a whispered blessing. A Phulkari shawl moves like a whispered blessing. Bright threads travel across its surface, transforming everyday gestures into moments of quiet grace. It drapes the body in colour, memory, and a gentle sense of celebration.
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https://shop.gaatha.com/hand-embroidery-phulkari-craft  #phulkari #womenstyle #wintetfestival #gaatha
The Muria tribe of Chhattisgarh is known for its c The Muria tribe of Chhattisgarh is known for its carved wooden khakis or pedias (combs), traditionally used in the ghotul. Within the ghotul, there exists an age-old custom of gifting combs as an expression of love. Boys (cheliks) spend days carving intricate designs on these combs to present them to the girls (motiaris) they admire. Girls play an equally important role in this courtship tradition by collecting and wearing multiple combs, which symbolise their popularity within the ghotul. While the number of combs reflects a girl’s desirability, the size and intricacy of the carvings reveal the devotion and skill of the boys.  When a girl favours a particular boy, she presents one of his combs to her mother upon reaching marriageable age, signalling her choice of a life partner. Such sensitive and meaningful expressions of love existed in our culture long before concepts like Valentine’s Day entered popular imagination. Yet, we seldom valued what deeply belonged to us. Somewhere along the way, we began copying others, and in doing so, lost ourselves. Now we are neither who we once were, nor who we tried to become.
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https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wood-carving-narayanpur/  #triballife #triballove #gaatha #chhatishgarh #loveindia
I find that there lies within me, a legion of thou I find that there lies within me, a legion of thoughts... they find ground here, on an endless pattern of flora, a finite infinity, rendered in an innate palette of colors gifted by mother earth… the intricacy of the pattern meddling with my thoughts.. and in my daze, i barely sense my thoughts being carried to paper... like butterflies to mountains, they find a home in solitude of words again....
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buy here ~ https://shop.gaatha.com/buy-kalamkari-naural-color-duree-online
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#homestyling #durries #gaatha #indianinteriors #livingroomdecor
When machine-made textiles first reached villages, When machine-made textiles first reached villages, handmade fabrics slowly began their journey toward cities. Urban markets initially demanded bright colours and flawless, smooth finishes. Today, the preference has shifted toward texture, irregularity, and natural tones. The irony is hard to miss. Handwoven textiles were once everyday objects in local haats, while machine-made fabrics occupied expensive showrooms. Now the roles have reversed: village markets are flooded with cheap, machine-made goods, and handloom textiles sit carefully displayed in elite retail spaces.  Who truly gains or loses in this shift is a complex question. What is clear, however, is how easily narratives are constructed to serve profit. A story is celebrated when it sells, and later dismissed as a passing phase or friction when markets move on.  A similar pattern can be seen in Kotpad. Yet, despite these changes, the knowledge of natural dyeing and handloom weaving continues to survive. These practices go beyond reducing the environmental impact of chemical dyes; they honour nature and sustain a centuries-old legacy of artisanal craftsmanship. Today, fabrics that once belonged to everyday village life are marketed as niche and exclusive in cities, while local haat bazaars are increasingly dominated by polyester and machine-made textiles.
~  Read more ~ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/kotpad-handloom-weaving-odisha/  #kotpad #handloomsofindia #handloomlove #gaatha #archive
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