Crafts - Craft Documentation & Online Research Archive https://gaatha.org Indian Craft online Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:25:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.11 https://gaatha.org/wp-content/uploads/gaatha-logo-63x63.png Crafts - Craft Documentation & Online Research Archive https://gaatha.org 32 32 Murti Kala ~Wooden craft Varanasi https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/murti-kala-wood-craft-varanasi/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/murti-kala-wood-craft-varanasi/#respond Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:25:31 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18647 The wooden craft ( Wooden toys ) of Varanasi are widely known for their finely carved and painted forms. Referred to as Murti Kala by local artisans, they were originally created for pilgrims. These toys are crafted in artisan clusters around Kashmiriganj in Varanasi and are later painted by potters from the Prajapati community. They […]

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]]> The wooden craft ( Wooden toys ) of Varanasi are widely known for their finely carved and painted forms. Referred to as Murti Kala by local artisans, they were originally created for pilgrims. These toys are crafted in artisan clusters around Kashmiriganj in Varanasi and are later painted by potters from the Prajapati community. They often depict animals, folk figures, deities, and scenes from rural life.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/murti-kala-wood-craft-varanasi/feed/ 0 Bone Carving ~ Lucknow https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/bone-carving-lucknow/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/bone-carving-lucknow/#respond Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:00:06 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18687 The craft of bone carving, which translates to ‘Haddi pe Naqqashi’, is a centuries-old practice that involves the intricate art of naqqashi (carving) on bone. Bone carving is one of India’s lesser-known yet deeply refined crafts. It is practised in various places in India, including Sambhal, Lucknow, Jodhpur and Barabanki. Primarily made from buffalo bones, […]

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]]> The craft of bone carving, which translates to ‘Haddi pe Naqqashi’, is a centuries-old practice that involves the intricate art of naqqashi (carving) on bone. Bone carving is one of India’s lesser-known yet deeply refined crafts. It is practised in various places in India, including Sambhal, Lucknow, Jodhpur and Barabanki. Primarily made from buffalo bones, the raw material is sourced from slaughterhouses, using bones that are by-product of the meat industry and would otherwise be discarded or buried. 

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/bone-carving-lucknow/feed/ 0 Wooden Lathe Toys ~ Varanasi https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wooden-lathe-toys-varanasi/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wooden-lathe-toys-varanasi/#respond Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:27:10 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18646 The Wooden lathe toys of Varanasi, made on lathe (turning machine), are commonly known as lacquerware toys. These toys are simply fashioned and brightly lacquered, which gives them their distinctive identity, earning them the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2015. They are crafted by skilled artisans in the colonies of Kashmiriganj and Khojwa in Varanasi. […]

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]]> The Wooden lathe toys of Varanasi, made on lathe (turning machine), are commonly known as lacquerware toys. These toys are simply fashioned and brightly lacquered, which gives them their distinctive identity, earning them the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2015. They are crafted by skilled artisans in the colonies of Kashmiriganj and Khojwa in Varanasi. The artisans practising this craft belong to the Kunder Kharadi Samaj.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wooden-lathe-toys-varanasi/feed/ 0 Meenakari Craft ~ Varanasi https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/meenakari-craft-varansai/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/meenakari-craft-varansai/#respond Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:08:57 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18549 Meenakari, widely known as the art of Enamelling, is the intricate craft of embellishing metal surfaces with coloured enamels (meena). Meenakari is practised in various parts of the world as well as the Indian subcontinent. The art of Meenakari practised in the lanes of Varanasi is known as Gulabi Meenakari. The colour ‘Gulabi’ pink is […]

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]]> Meenakari, widely known as the art of Enamelling, is the intricate craft of embellishing metal surfaces with coloured enamels (meena). Meenakari is practised in various parts of the world as well as the Indian subcontinent. The art of Meenakari practised in the lanes of Varanasi is known as Gulabi Meenakari. The colour ‘Gulabi’ pink is a predominant colour used, taking its name from the craft. It involves creating surface ornamentation by using vitreous glass enamels on the surface of silver metal.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/meenakari-craft-varansai/feed/ 0 Weaving ~ Kotpad, Odisha https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/kotpad-handloom-weaving-odisha/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/kotpad-handloom-weaving-odisha/#respond Sat, 27 Dec 2025 15:53:47 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18323 Kotpad handloom weaving is a century-old textile tradition that originated in a small weaving village called ‘Kotpad’ in the Koraput district of Odisha. Known for preserving and promoting tribal heritage, Kotpad handlooms became the first product in Odisha to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2005, thereby protecting its uniqueness. These textiles are woven […]

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]]> Kotpad handloom weaving is a century-old textile tradition that originated in a small weaving village called ‘Kotpad’ in the Koraput district of Odisha. Known for preserving and promoting tribal heritage, Kotpad handlooms became the first product in Odisha to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2005, thereby protecting its uniqueness. These textiles are woven by the Panka, Mirga and Manikpuria community in the southern areas of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/kotpad-handloom-weaving-odisha/feed/ 0 Dhurrie Weaving ~ Warangal https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/dhurrie-weaving-warangal/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/dhurrie-weaving-warangal/#respond Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:43:23 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18259 ‘Dhurrie’, derived from the Hindi and Urdu word ‘dari’, means carpet and is considered the world’s oldest floor covering. The etymology of the word dhurrie is a bit complicated. In Sanskrit, Dara is a ‘mat of split cane’. In Sindhi, the word dari also means ‘a piece of matting’ and the same word in Punjabi, […]

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]]> ‘Dhurrie’, derived from the Hindi and Urdu word ‘dari’, means carpet and is considered the world’s oldest floor covering. The etymology of the word dhurrie is a bit complicated. In Sanskrit, Dara is a ‘mat of split cane’. In Sindhi, the word dari also means ‘a piece of matting’ and the same word in Punjabi, Bengali, Oriya, and Nepali denotes a ‘carpet’. Warangal dhurries acquired Geographical Indication Tag in 2018, acknowledging its high degree of craftsmanship.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/dhurrie-weaving-warangal/feed/ 0 Wrought Iron ~Kidai chepda, Kondagaon https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wrought-iron-kidai-chepda-kondagaon/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wrought-iron-kidai-chepda-kondagaon/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:12:18 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18155 In Chhattisgarh, the knowledge of iron is as old as civilization itself. The Agariya community, whose name comes from the word Aag meaning fire, has long been the torchbearer of this tradition, extracting iron from ore and shaping it into functional objects like agricultural tools, hunting gear, diyas, and more.This age-old skill found new meaning […]

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]]> In Chhattisgarh, the knowledge of iron is as old as civilization itself. The Agariya community, whose name comes from the word Aag meaning fire, has long been the torchbearer of this tradition, extracting iron from ore and shaping it into functional objects like agricultural tools, hunting gear, diyas, and more.
This age-old skill found new meaning when their creations reached urban markets. The raw, rustic aesthetic of their work captivated modern audiences, inspiring artisans and designers to collaborate and experiment. What began as a traditional craft has evolved continuously for over four decades, and the story still forges ahead.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/wrought-iron-kidai-chepda-kondagaon/feed/ 0 Dhokra craft ~ Kondagaon https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/dhokra-craft-kondagaon/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/dhokra-craft-kondagaon/#respond Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:35:22 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=18067 This metal-casting tradition has not only been kept alive in Kondagaon, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, but artisans here have truly taken it to another level. The name Kondagaon may evoke the feeling of a small village, but it is, in fact, a town. Within Kondagaon, the area of Bhelwapadar is where most of […]

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]]> This metal-casting tradition has not only been kept alive in Kondagaon, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, but artisans here have truly taken it to another level. The name Kondagaon may evoke the feeling of a small village, but it is, in fact, a town. Within Kondagaon, the area of Bhelwapadar is where most of the Dhokra artisans work.
As the craft flourished, many people became involved in different stages of the process. Yet, traditionally, it is the Baghels, belonging to the Ghadwa community—who have practised this art across generations. In Kondagaon, most artworks are inspired by elements of nature and tribal life. The socio-cultural narratives that craftsmen see and hear around them are beautifully sculpted using natural mediums, carrying forward both heritage and storytelling.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/dhokra-craft-kondagaon/feed/ 0 Saree weaving ~ Amarchinta https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/saree-weaving-amarchinta/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/saree-weaving-amarchinta/#respond Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:10:38 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=17678 Saree weaving in Amarchinta has always been a cherished name among Telugu women. It is not just a place, it is a rhythm of life, woven into every field, every loom, and every story told under the shade of an old tamarind tree. Located in Telangana’s Wanaparthy district, Amarchinta may appear quiet on the map, […]

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]]> Saree weaving in Amarchinta has always been a cherished name among Telugu women. It is not just a place, it is a rhythm of life, woven into every field, every loom, and every story told under the shade of an old tamarind tree. Located in Telangana’s Wanaparthy district, Amarchinta may appear quiet on the map, but it resounds deeply in the memories of those who have lived within. Here, craft is not merely an occupation; it is a way of life, passed gently from palm to palm, from elder to child, more as a natural habit than as a proclaimed heritage.

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]]> https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/saree-weaving-amarchinta/feed/ 0 Stone Carving~ Jabalpur https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/stone-carving-jabalpur/ https://gaatha.org/Craft-of-India/stone-carving-jabalpur/#respond Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:41:48 +0000 https://gaatha.org/?post_type=listing&p=17683 Jabalpur stone carvings reflects a long-standing relationship between material, sacred symbolism, and evolving aesthetic sensibilities. Far beyond being mere artifacts of decoration, these carvings operate as objects of devotion, memory, identity, and commerce, migrating from temples to tourist stalls, from rituals to residences.

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]]> Jabalpur stone carvings reflects a long-standing relationship between material, sacred symbolism, and evolving aesthetic sensibilities. Far beyond being mere artifacts of decoration, these carvings operate as objects of devotion, memory, identity, and commerce, migrating from temples to tourist stalls, from rituals to residences.

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