Crafts of India

Every region of India specializes in a craft or the other. Every corner here is a workshop of the craftsmen who have been engaged in making different forms of crafts since generations. The social structure of India has been such that it entrusted responsibility of harboring a craft form or the other to a particular cast for earning a living as well as developing it. This factor helped in the development many crafts. The craftsmen passed on the skills and knowledge of the crafts concerned to the next generation and they passed it on to the next generation. After so many generations passed by the present folks have almost similar skills and technique to those of their ancestors. Each generation has added something extra to what they had received. This process has helped in flourishing of the craft traditions.

There are several handicrafts that have become the identity of the state or the place they belong to. In present times their market value and demand have leaped to very high level. They are immensely appreciated both in home and away from home. These crafts have been survived till date because of their utilitarian value, availability to the common people and popularity in the domestic and foreign circuits.

The craft of jewelry has reached to high levels of popularity amongst Indians. Gems and the related jewelry are hugely demanded all over. The demand and popularity of jewelry has helped in the transformation of this craft into an industry. Gems and jewelry have different medicinal powers too. People wear them as per the advice of astrologers. Beside medical effects, it is strongly believed that selective gems bring fortune and success to the wearer.

Sarees are important attire for Indian women. They are plenty of materials and designs in which these Sarees are made. Brocade and zari work is in great demand. The repertoire of Indian sarees include Tanchoi from Surat, Paithani, Patola, Kanjeevaram, Banarsi Amru , cotton saris from the tribal regions of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh and many others from different corners of India. The sarees may be block printed, bandhej styled, embroidered, brocaded or traditionally done.

There are other varieties of costumes and garments that are manufactured in India using different skills, techniques and fabrics. Woven shawls of Kashmir and North-East, Jaipuri quilts, carpets and pherans of Kashmir are popular all over the places.

Other crafts like Bamboo products of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, appliqué products of Orissa, Stone craft of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and Bidri craft of Karnataka are most glorious crafts traditions in India.

For information on Indian Crafts visit http://india-crafts.com

Yoga- Theory and Practice

According to Hindu belief system the ultimate goal of the life is spiritual upliftment of the being through the union of soul (atma) and the Supreme power (Paramatma). Yoga (literal meaning union or combination) is a collective term given to the ancient spiritual practices leading to the union of Atma and Paramatma. As a general theory of Hinduism, yoga refers to the techniques or the disciplines of the asceticism and meditation that leads to the spiritual experience and a deep understanding of the nature of existence of the humanity.
The concept of yoga has got mention in various Hindu scriptures. The primary ones are Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, Patanjali Yogasutra, Hath Yoga Pradeepika and Shiva Sanhita. Raj Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga are the branches of the Yoga.
Bhagwad Gita is one of the most revered texts of Hindu religion which is deemed to have been composed in 2nd century BC. The term yoga has been used extensively in this scripture, with rather various connotations. Greatest emphasis is given to three terms- Karma Yoga (yoga of action), Bhakti Yoga (yoga of action) and Jnana Yoga (yoga of knowledge).There are 24 chapters in The holy Gita, each six based on these factions of yoga.
Acharya Patanjali is regarded as the founder of the formal Yoga Philosophy who composed Yogasutra. His yoga is Raj Yoga that deals with the control of body and mind. On the basis of Patanajali’s studies, the system of Ashtanga Yoga or Eight Limbs of Yoga has evolved. These are: Yama (five abstentions), Niyama (five observances), Asana (seat or postures), Pranayama (control of life force), Pratyahara (abstraction), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), Samadhi (liberation).
The system of Yoga has influenced almost all the religious systems of India including Buddhism and Jainism. Almost all the major factions of Buddhism like Yogacara Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism have been deeply influenced by Yoga.
Yoga has now become popular all over the world including US. There are so many instructors who, after learning it from the accomplished Yoga Gurus, are teaching the techniques of yoga to the millions of people. The system of Yoga is scientifically proved, hence all people who have got scientific temperament are inclined towards yoga. Nowadays many yoga camps are organized in different cities by trained Gurus. Permanent yoga teaching centers and yoga classes are attended by huge number of people. All these activities are triggered by the popularity of yoga as a harmless system that provides physical as well as mental strength. Their are various products in the market that facilitate yoga. For ex. yoga mats, yoga bags, yoga props , yoga clothing and other accessories.

This is estimated that in coming times the popularity of yoga will only increase.

For more information you may visit http://www.yoga.indiahandicraftstore.com/

Phad Paintings

Phad Paintings are the folk paintings of western India, especially Rajasthan. Phad paintings, speaking in general terms, are large paintings on cloth which commemorate the heroic deeds of a hero. The smaller version of Phad paintings is called pahadkye.

The origin of the phad paintings is not clearly known because as a custom the phad were destroyed by submerging in a lake near Pushkar. This is the reason the earliest specimens of phad paintings are not available. The oldest phad paintings available belong to late 19th century or early 20th century.

The main theme of this painting style was to illustrate the heroics of Goga Chauhan, Prithviraj Chauhan, Amar Singh Rathore and Tejaji. However, now in the present times, old heroes have been replaced by new ones like Papuji and Narayandevi. Phadkye, the smaller version of phad paintings primarily depict the stories of Ram Krishnadala, Bhainsasura and Ramdev.

The heroes depicted in the phad paintings are those humans who have attained the divine status because of their valor and achievements in numerous battles fought for the honor and defence of motherland.
Phad paintings are painted by people of special cast- Chippa also called Joshis. These paintings have attained a sacred stature and before the beginning the drawing certain rituals and ceremonies are observed. An interesting fact of the making of phad paintings is that no work is done on phads during the monsoon season. This is done with the belief that the folk deities remain asleep during this season.


The colors used in these paintings are sequentially saffron, green, brown, vermillion, sky blue and black. Traditionally, the colors used are derived from vegetables and minerals. Though, in present times, synthetic colors have also gained prominence.

One more interesting tradition about the phad painting is that the painter does not paint the eyes of the painting until he hands that over to bhopa (fellow from Bhopa caste, who specialize is singing different folk tales). At the time of handing over cloth painting to him, painter gives the final touch to the painting by drawing the eyes of the character concerned. At this time he also adds the name of the bhopa and the date on the painting. Bhopas in a group of two or three sing the tales illustrated in the phads and a musical tribute is paid to the hero.


For their unique appeal, Phads have become commercial commodity, in the present times.

For more information please visit http://www.ethnicpaintings.com/

Indian Miniature Paintings

Among several styles of Indian paintings, miniature style is most significant. Miniature school of painting was originated in the western valley of Himalaya in seventeenth century. But it flourished and greatly evolved under the patronage of Mughal emperors. Miniature style is characterized by the delicate brushwork and detailed illustration of even smallest of object shown.
Though some themes of miniature paintings were influenced by the stories of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagwat Purana,Rasik Priya, Ras Manjari and other literary classics but the foremost theme used to be the Ragas or the musical codes of Indian classical music.
The colors used for these paintings were prepared from minerals, vegetables, precious stones, indigo, conch shells, pure gold and silver.

There are three primary sub genres of Indian Miniature Paintings- Mughal School, Rajput School and Deccan School. The Mughal Miniature Paintings have a strong and a definite narrative content. These brilliantly illustrated paintings glow as if illuminated from inside. The use of bold contrasts such as red, green, blue yellow is definitely a native influence. During the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir, this style got more sophistication. They became more intricate and smaller and even the themes were picked very carefully. Mansoor, Abul Hasan, Daswant and Govardhan were the greatest painters of the Mughal Miniature Style.
The Rajput school of painting was marked by the themes of Lord Krishna and his leelas. The literature of Bhakti cult had influenced these paintings hugely. The emphasis used to be given on the love and other emotions, keeping Radha and Krishna at the center stage. These paintings are known for the aesthetic depiction of various love acts of the divine couple. Rajput Miniature painters mainly used vegetable and mineral dyes. Notable painters of this school were Keshav Das and Bhanudutt.

Pesian and Turkish painting traditions seem to have influenced the Deccan School of Painting to a great extent. This school of painting bloomed in Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda, and Aurangabad. The union of these styles with indigenous traditions produced a fascinating hybrid. Some interesting fields where this school of painting was applied were Husayan Shahi Manuscript, Ragamala, Nujum al-Ulam, Portraits of Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah II and Kulliyat from Golconda.


Miniature school of paintings was an accomplished art form as well as the most authentic resource of its times. Indian culture is made rich an prosperous having these mighty traditions and arts.

For more information see the article: http://www.ethnicpaintings.com/indian_painting_styles/miniature/index-1.html

At the outset

In the blog arena for the first time, i feel thrilled from the fact that this interface will have a greater significance than any other. I wanted to tell people around the globe about the charm and the captivating nature of Indian crafts and eventually i have landed up here. From paintings to sculptures, textiles to metallurgy, jewelry to woodenwares and plenty of other aspects are Indian Crafts are fascinating and quaint enough to generate huge curiosity. These craft traditions are nurtured since pre historic times and evolved to this strong, permanent and ever advancing stage.

In my later posts i shall be focussing individually on the Indian Crafts and traditions to give you a deep insight of the Crafts and Culture of India. And this wait will not be longer.