Paintings - Craft Documentation & Online Research Archive

Bhitti Chitra (Muriya Painting)~ Chhattisgarh

info_admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:39:49 +0000

Bhitti Chitras Chhattisgarh are an integral part of the region’s cultural heritage, visually representing and preserving historical traditions, customs, rituals, collective memory, and the unique identity of each community or tribe. The term Bhitti Chitra comes from two Sanskrit words: bhitti, meaning wall, and chitra, meaning painting. These artworks have long served as a medium to pass down knowledge, beliefs, and customs across generations. They are both informative and aesthetically appealing.

These paintings are not confined to a specific artistic style; they are primarily narrative, where each element symbolizes a cultural belief or value. Different tribes create these paintings for different purposes, but among the most well-known are those of the Muria people, an indigenous tribal community from the Bastar region. As a subgroup of the larger Gond tribe, the Muria are known for their progressive perspectives on life and marriage, and they were traditionally responsible for painting the walls of the Ghotuls, their unique youth dormitories.

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Kathakali Headgear ~ Vellinezhi, Palakkad

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:15:41 +0000

Kathakali is one of the 9 major Indian classical dances recognized by the Indian Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Academy. Native to the state of Kerala, Kathakali was born in the 17th century. It is the performance or enactment of stories through dance and ancient Indian martial art techniques. The roots of Kathakali can be traced back to Bharat muni’s text Natya Shastra that contains verses on performance techniques. Traditionally, religious, spiritual and folklore narratives comprised the plotline of Kathakali performances. In recent times, however, adaptations of modern literary works and stories have been incorporated too.

The post Kathakali Headgear ~ Vellinezhi, Palakkad first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

Bundi Paintings ~ Bundi

info_admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:23:36 +0000

Bundi School of Painting, considered as an important and one of the most popular Rajasthani styles of Indian miniature painting, originated in the 17th century in the princely state of Bundi. The figurative art of the Bundi school of paintings serves not only to create powerful means of diffusion for religious thought but also touch upon the most varied aspects of life around it. Through the compositions and descriptions made by the Bundi artists, the lifestyle of royals, battle fields, festivals and horse races are beautifully depicted in Bundi paintings. This type of miniature painting became an important source to understand the social, cultural, political and religious aspects of that period in Rajasthan.

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Sankheda Craft

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 06:48:34 +0000

The sturdy pieces of furniture which are equivalent to vibrant and exquisite pieces of art designed at the Sankheda town by artisans belonging to the Kharadi community. Sankheda is derived from the Gujarati word ‘sanghedu’, which refers to lathe or the machine used to turn wood. These are internationally renowed for their grand, hand-painted motifs on shiny lacquered turned teakwood.

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Marble Sculptures -Jaipur

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 07:34:38 +0000

Murti Mohalla situated between Kishanpole and Chandpole in the walled city of Jaipur, is the biggest manufacturing center for marble statues of Hindu and Jain deities. Jaipur also produces Human figurines, animals, and exquisite-bowls, carved marble vases, carvings and portraits. The entire world has great admiration for marble works of Jaipur.

The post Marble Sculptures -Jaipur first appeared on Craft Archive | Research on Indian Handicrafts & Handloom.

Lathe Work~Sheopur

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 12:42:37 +0000

Soft wood spins on the lathe from morning to twilight, metamorphosing into beautiful objects and shapes. The art of making Lacquer ware is a thriving traditional craft, once reserved to royal patronage, it quickly found its place in crafting various items of both decorative and functional uses.

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Miniature Painting~Kangra

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 11:04:10 +0000

Kangra paintings of ancient India belong to the school of Pahari paintings that were patronized by the Rajput rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries. Pahari paintings, as the name suggests, were paintings executed in the hilly regions of India, in the sub-Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. It is in the development and modification of Pahari paintings, that the Kangra School features. Under the patronage of Maharaja Sansar Chand, it became the most important centre of Pahari painting.

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Miniature Painting~Udaipur

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:29:41 +0000

Whether it was the aerial view of the city from the fort wall, scenes from the Indian mythology or a grand procession, the artists would paint the entire scene in its full grandeur in amazing detail and finesse on a small canvas, for the king to keep as a memory of the event. These were the exquisite Miniature paintings of Rajasthan in the 16th Century. An art that was brought to India by the Mughal rulers, these were essentially a means for documenting history for the future generations.

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Gatha Stones~Alirajpur

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:26:19 +0000

Egyptians weren’t the only people to propose that death is but an extension of life. Memorial stone carving locally known as ‘Gatha’, ‘Gatla’, ‘Smriti Stambha’ or ‘Mandos’ is a popular practice amongst the tribes of Gujarat, Rajasthan and western Madhya Pradesh. These visual epitaphs are created when there is an unnatural or sudden death of an individual. The essence of the deceased is portrayed through the figures carved in stone, which are sometimes done in an iconographic way. The tribes believe that after death the spirit resides in the stones, where the spirit provides protection to the family and becomes their guardian angel.

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Pithora~Alirajpur

Gaatha A tale of crafts — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:17:26 +0000

Pithora paintings are ritualistic paintings done by the Rathwa tribe. These paintings depict the main deity called Pithora and a procession displaying his accomplishments. When kept in homes, they are believed to bring peace, prosperity and happiness. These are also believed to be an old method of cartography.

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