India is the land of arts and crafts. Almost every region has its own
traditional form of art that includes drawings, paintings, embroideries,
carvings, saris and more. We're really blessed to be born in a country
with so much diversity in this space. Sadly, however, some of these art
forms are on the verge of extinction. Let's take a look at 9 of the most
beautiful of them which need to be saved right away!
1. Manjusha paintings
manjushakala.in
Manjusha is believed to be the only art form in India that is displayed in series, each representing a
story within it. This art form originated in Anga Pradesh (modern day
Bihar). Back then, they made products only to be used in Bishahari
festival, a festival dedicated to the snake god that took place in the
district Bhagalpur. This art flourished heartily during the British rule
in India. However, it started fading away in the middle of the 20th
century. Fortunately, the Bihar government is making an effort to revive
this craft and patent it as Bhagalpur folk art.
2. Traditional art of puppetry
Flickr
Some
scholars suggest that puppetry has existed in India for over 3000
years. The surprising thing is that there are so many forms of puppetry
that we aren’t even aware about. There's shadow puppetry from Kerala.
Then there’s Kathaputli from Rajasthan and Kundhei from
Orissa. But all of these won’t exist a few years from now. There are
very few artists left that know the art. Some NGOs have tried to bring
puppetry to urban cities, yet this art form is nearing its end
3. Parsi embroidery
rugrabbit
Parsi
embroidery has been a part of India’s diverse textile heritage. During
the bronze age, this art form took birth in Iran and with time it drew
influences from European, Chinese, Persian and Indian culture. The saris
that depict Parsi embroidery are known as Parsi Gara Saris and take
about 9 months to complete. But now, you’ll find very few of these in
the market. The reason is the declining Parsi community and mass
production of clothes that are readily available.
4. Toda embroidery
textilerails
The
Toda tribe resides in the Nilgiri Hills. The entire tribe consists of
only 2000 people and they’re struggling to protect their culture and
craft. The embroidery is basically done on cloth with square-shaped
deceptions that are one of a kind. You’ll find this embroidery done on
everything from wallets, cell phone pouches, bed sheets, stoles etc and
each design is unique in its own way.
February 15, 2016
India
is the land of arts and crafts. Almost every region has its own
traditional form of art that includes drawings, paintings, embroideries,
carvings, saris and more. We're really blessed to be born in a country
with so much diversity in this space. Sadly, however, some of these art
forms are on the verge of extinction. Let's take a look at 9 of the most
beautiful of them which need to be saved right away!
1. Manjusha paintings
manjushakala.in
Manjusha is believed to be the only art form in India that is displayed in series, each representing a
story within it. This art form originated in Anga Pradesh (modern day
Bihar). Back then, they made products only to be used in Bishahari
festival, a festival dedicated to the snake god that took place in the
district Bhagalpur. This art flourished heartily during the British rule
in India. However, it started fading away in the middle of the 20th
century. Fortunately, the Bihar government is making an effort to revive
this craft and patent it as Bhagalpur folk art.
2. Traditional art of puppetry
Flickr
Some
scholars suggest that puppetry has existed in India for over 3000
years. The surprising thing is that there are so many forms of puppetry
that we aren’t even aware about. There's shadow puppetry from Kerala.
Then there’s Kathaputli from Rajasthan and Kundhei from
Orissa. But all of these won’t exist a few years from now. There are
very few artists left that know the art. Some NGOs have tried to bring
puppetry to urban cities, yet this art form is nearing its end.
3. Parsi embroidery
rugrabbit
Parsi
embroidery has been a part of India’s diverse textile heritage. During
the bronze age, this art form took birth in Iran and with time it drew
influences from European, Chinese, Persian and Indian culture. The saris
that depict Parsi embroidery are known as Parsi Gara Saris and take
about 9 months to complete. But now, you’ll find very few of these in
the market. The reason is the declining Parsi community and mass
production of clothes that are readily available.
4. Toda embroidery
textilerails
The
Toda tribe resides in the Nilgiri Hills. The entire tribe consists of
only 2000 people and they’re struggling to protect their culture and
craft. The embroidery is basically done on cloth with square-shaped
deceptions that are one of a kind. You’ll find this embroidery done on
everything from wallets, cell phone pouches, bed sheets, stoles etc and
each design is unique in its own way.
5. Naga handicraft
mapsofindia
The
Nagas are famous for their deep-rooted culture and it strongly comes
out in the form of art and craft. The tribe is famous for creating
interesting handicraft items made from wood, cane and other readily
available raw material from the forest. Based out of Nagaland, this
tribe makes really gorgeous crafts like baskets, bowls, decors, carved
benches, shawls scarves and bags. Fortunately, the tribe still takes
part in expos to promote its craft, but we know that these products
won’t be available for far too long.
India
is the land of arts and crafts. Almost every region has its own
traditional form of art that includes drawings, paintings, embroideries,
carvings, saris and more. We're really blessed to be born in a country
with so much diversity in this space. Sadly, however, some of these art
forms are on the verge of extinction. Let's take a look at 9 of the most
beautiful of them which need to be saved right away!
manjushakala.in
Manjusha is believed to be the only art form in India that is displayed in series, each representing a story within it. This art form originated in Anga Pradesh (modern day Bihar). Back then, they made products only to be used in Bishahari festival, a festival dedicated to the snake god that took place in the district Bhagalpur. This art flourished heartily during the British rule in India. However, it started fading away in the middle of the 20th century. Fortunately, the Bihar government is making an effort to revive this craft and patent it as Bhagalpur folk art.
Flickr
Some scholars suggest that puppetry has existed in India for over 3000 years. The surprising thing is that there are so many forms of puppetry that we aren’t even aware about. There's shadow puppetry from Kerala. Then there’s Kathaputli from Rajasthan and Kundhei from Orissa. But all of these won’t exist a few years from now. There are very few artists left that know the art. Some NGOs have tried to bring puppetry to urban cities, yet this art form is nearing its end.
rugrabbit
Parsi embroidery has been a part of India’s diverse textile heritage. During the bronze age, this art form took birth in Iran and with time it drew influences from European, Chinese, Persian and Indian culture. The saris that depict Parsi embroidery are known as Parsi Gara Saris and take about 9 months to complete. But now, you’ll find very few of these in the market. The reason is the declining Parsi community and mass production of clothes that are readily available.
textilerails
The Toda tribe resides in the Nilgiri Hills. The entire tribe consists of only 2000 people and they’re struggling to protect their culture and craft. The embroidery is basically done on cloth with square-shaped deceptions that are one of a kind. You’ll find this embroidery done on everything from wallets, cell phone pouches, bed sheets, stoles etc and each design is unique in its own way.
mapsofindia
The Nagas are famous for their deep-rooted culture and it strongly comes out in the form of art and craft. The tribe is famous for creating interesting handicraft items made from wood, cane and other readily available raw material from the forest. Based out of Nagaland, this tribe makes really gorgeous crafts like baskets, bowls, decors, carved benches, shawls scarves and bags. Fortunately, the tribe still takes part in expos to promote its craft, but we know that these products won’t be available for far too long.
1. Manjusha paintings
manjushakala.in
Manjusha is believed to be the only art form in India that is displayed in series, each representing a story within it. This art form originated in Anga Pradesh (modern day Bihar). Back then, they made products only to be used in Bishahari festival, a festival dedicated to the snake god that took place in the district Bhagalpur. This art flourished heartily during the British rule in India. However, it started fading away in the middle of the 20th century. Fortunately, the Bihar government is making an effort to revive this craft and patent it as Bhagalpur folk art.
2. Traditional art of puppetry
Flickr
Some scholars suggest that puppetry has existed in India for over 3000 years. The surprising thing is that there are so many forms of puppetry that we aren’t even aware about. There's shadow puppetry from Kerala. Then there’s Kathaputli from Rajasthan and Kundhei from Orissa. But all of these won’t exist a few years from now. There are very few artists left that know the art. Some NGOs have tried to bring puppetry to urban cities, yet this art form is nearing its end.
3. Parsi embroidery
rugrabbit
Parsi embroidery has been a part of India’s diverse textile heritage. During the bronze age, this art form took birth in Iran and with time it drew influences from European, Chinese, Persian and Indian culture. The saris that depict Parsi embroidery are known as Parsi Gara Saris and take about 9 months to complete. But now, you’ll find very few of these in the market. The reason is the declining Parsi community and mass production of clothes that are readily available.
4. Toda embroidery
textilerails
The Toda tribe resides in the Nilgiri Hills. The entire tribe consists of only 2000 people and they’re struggling to protect their culture and craft. The embroidery is basically done on cloth with square-shaped deceptions that are one of a kind. You’ll find this embroidery done on everything from wallets, cell phone pouches, bed sheets, stoles etc and each design is unique in its own way.
5. Naga handicraft
mapsofindia
The Nagas are famous for their deep-rooted culture and it strongly comes out in the form of art and craft. The tribe is famous for creating interesting handicraft items made from wood, cane and other readily available raw material from the forest. Based out of Nagaland, this tribe makes really gorgeous crafts like baskets, bowls, decors, carved benches, shawls scarves and bags. Fortunately, the tribe still takes part in expos to promote its craft, but we know that these products won’t be available for far too long.
6. Roghan painting
IndiaTv
The
Roghan painting is done only by 6 surviving people in India right now.
The Khatri family living in the Kutch area of Rajasthan have been the
practitioners of the art for seven generations, but they fear that this
will be the last surviving generation for the Roghan painting as the
future generation isn’t patient or hardworking enough to take it up.
This extraordinary form of art is executed on fabric with castor oil,
paints and a 6-inch thin metal rod. The paintings are expensive and are
generally purchased by foreigners.
7. Dhokhra handicraft
wordpress
The
Bastar region, a district in Chhattisgar, is home to tribes who
specialise in Dhokra handicraft. It’s wax casting technique has been in
India for more than 4,000 years. One of the earliest known dhokra
artifacts is the dancing girl of Mohenjo-daro. These products are in
great demand in domestic and foreign markets because of primitive
simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form. But, again, very
few tribes are practicing the art and no one has been able to come up
with a technology to save the 250-year-old legacy.
8. Patola saris
Patola
saris, that involve part ikat work, are the most expensive saris in the
world. Each classic Patola sari can survive for about 300 years and
retain the colour. The saris take four to six months to make, with more
than 70 days for the colouring of the silk threads, and about 25 days
for the weaving. The costliest sari is priced at a whopping Rs 7 lakh.
At least 12 people work for over two years to make it using materials
required for 27 normal Patola saris. This extremely complex and
time-consuming dyeing art is currently pursued by only four families in
Gujarat. Some of the families are trying to keep the tradition alive,
but are unsure of its eventual fate.
9. Mithila painting
youthopia.in
The
Mithila painting is one of the living creative activities of the women
of Bihar. It is a form of folk painting on paper, cloth, readymade
garments, movable objects that is mainly done by the village women of
Mithila. Originally it was a folk art, practiced by women of all castes
and communities using natural and vegetable colours. Since it’s
practised in only one village, and very few women make these paintings,
we know that it’s one of the dying traditions of India.
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