1. Kota Doria
Kota doria is an indigenous garment made at Kota, Rajasthan and some areas in neighboring Uttar Pradesh. The Kota saris are made of pure silk or pure cotton and bear square-shaped patterns known as khats. The saris are in fine weave and hence very light and hugely popular among the women of India. In the ancient times, the Kota saris were woven in Mysore in South India where they were known as Masuria. A general in the Mughal Army, Rao Kishore Singh, brought the weavers to Kota in the latter half of the 17th century and early 18th century. From then on, the saris were named as ‘Kota-Masuria'. The unique fact about these saris is that they are woven in such a fashion on a traditional pit loom that the fabric bears square checks pattern. Rice paste and onion juice are pasted on the yarn in a manner that the yarn becomes so strong that no additional finishing is needed. Border patchworks and embroideries further enhance the beauty of these saris.
2. Blue Pottery of Jaipur
Blue pottery is actually Turko-Persian in origin but is widely recognized as a traditional craft of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The pottery is famous for the eye-catching blue dye used to color the pottery. The technique of using blue glaze on pottery was first adopted by Mongol artisans which then became popular in Persia and traveled to India with early Turkic conquests in the 14th century. In the initial stages of development, the art form was used to decorate tombs, palaces, and mosques in Central Asia. Later, the Mughals in India popularized the use of such art form in their constructions. Soon, the blue glaze technique was picked up by potters in India and blue pottery produced by them became hugely popular. Some other account claim that the art was introduced by the ruler Sawai Ram Singh II. He sent local potters to Delhi to learn the art. The Rambagh Palace in Jaipur with fountains lined by blue tiles is an excellent example of the blue glaze technique. This ancient art form was unfortunately lost for a long period of time but was again recently re-introduced by the painter Kripal Singh Shekhawat with the help of royal patrons like Rajmata Gayatri Devi.
Today, many artisans in Jaipur depend on blue pottery production for their livelihood. Now, not only urns, vases, jars, and pots, but also cups, saucers, tea sets, napkin rings, ashtrays, etc., are made using this art form.
3. Molela Clay Work
A small village, Molela, in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand District might from the exterior appear like any other normal village of the region. However, the village is home to numerous artisans and painters who produce a unique craft, the terracotta plaques of Molela. The craft involves the sculpting of idols out of clay on a flat clay base. Several Hindu Gods and Goddesses are sculpted and are often colorfully painted resulting in eye-catching sculptures. The sculptures cater to the religious needs of the tribals of nearby regions who buy these sculptures for various ritualistic purposes. There is an interesting legend associated with the origin of the Molela clay work. It is said that a blind potter once dreamt of God Devnararyan (Dharmaraja) who directed him to make his image using clay from a specific area. It is said that by doing so the potter regained his eyesight. Recently, the craft form has evolved to include new designs like traditional wedding processions, village life, etc. This expands the type of buyers of this indigenous products and provides a source of income throughout the year.
The Molela clay is dug from the banks of the Banas River that flows near the village of Molela. The potters have their own specific digging sites on the river banks. Mineral and natural stone colors are used to pain the sculptures. A vegetable gum called Dawrigund used for binding. Lacquer coat is painted over the sculpture to provide a shining glow.
4. Kathputlis of Rajasthan
The most popular form of Indian puppetry the Kathputlis of Rajasthan represents a string puppet theater. The puppets are controlled by means of thin strings passing from the puppet’s top to the puppeteer.
It is believed that the Kathputli art tradition of Rajasthan is thousands of years old and is mentioned in several folk tales, folk songs, and ballads of the region. This ancient art tradition possibly started some 1,500 years ago when the Bhat tribal community of Rajasthan started practicing it. Rajasthan’s royals soon patronized this art form which led to its popularity and demand. Today, the art tradition is an integral part of Rajasthani festivals, fairs, and other celebrations.
Several organizations in the Indian state are working hard to ensure the Kathputli art form survive the test of times and continue to draw the interest of both domestic as well as foreign tourists as it does now. Kathputli performances involve stories depicted via Kathputli dancing and the puppeteers using their voices by speaking through a bamboo reed. Several important social and moral messages like those related to the spread of literacy, cleanliness, women’s empowerments, the evils of the dowry system, etc., are spread with the help of Kathputli shows throughout the state. Hundreds of villagers who flock to watch such shows can be easily delivered important messages using the Kathputli show as a medium.
5. Sanganeri Hand Block Printing
The Sanganer town of Rajasthan, 16 km to the south of Jaipur, is famous for a number of indigenous styles of art and craft. One of the most famous among them is the Sanganeri hand block printing. Here wooden blocks with carved designs are dipped in natural dyes and printed on textiles or paper giving a colorful pattern and design to the fabric.
The art is nearly 500 years old and reached its peak during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were a favorite of the Indian royalty but later also became popular in the urban households in the country. The Sanganeri Hand Block printed textiles were also exported abroad to Europe during the British rule. The colorful patterns of roses, geometrical designs, sunflowers, and more on the textiles look extremely beautiful. Most of the artisans engaged in this block printing activity belong to the Chippa community. About 3,000 families in the region are dependent on the sale of hand block print textiles for their livelihood.
Besides this art style, Sanganer is also famous for its handmade paper industry and beautiful Jain temples.
6. Bikaneri Bhujia
A very popular crispy snack, the Bikaneri bhujia originated in the Bikaner town in Rajasthan. The snack is made from besan (gram flour), moth beans, and spices. Thorough quality checks are performed before releasing a fresh batch of bhujiyas for sale to ensure the quality is not affected. The Bikaneri bhujia employs around 2.5 million people including many women in Bikaner, and is a cottage industry in the region. For years, the Bikaneri bhujia faced severe market competitions Several national and international brands used the term bhujia or brought out similar products. Finally, the Indian Government issued a patent for the brand name Bikaneri bhujia to local manufacturers of Bikaner.
The first batch of Bikaneri bhuijia was produced in 1997 during the rule of the Maharaja Shri Dungar Singh. In the preparation of the bhujia, a dough of moth dal besan, powdered cellulose, cardamom, cloves, salt, red chilli, black pepper, groundnut oil, and variety of other ingredients are prepared. These are then passed through a sieve to form snack-shaped pieces and then deep fried in vegetable oil. The result is an extremely mouth-watering snack, a favorite of Indians all across the country.
7. Bagru Hand Block Print
Similar to the Sanganeri Hand Block Printing, another region in Rajasthan, India, Bagru, is also famous for a similar art form. Here, the Chhipa community continue to practice the centuries old printing tradition. Bagru is also recognized for its leather industry and leather products. The traditional pickles of the region is also quite famous.
8. Thewa Art Work
Thewa, a special jewelry making art involves the use of molten glass as a base and the embossing of intricately worked-out sheet gold on the base. The origin of the art form can be traced to the Pratapgarh district, Rajasthan India. The origin of this art form dates back to the Mughal period. It is said that an artisan Nathu ji Soni invented the process and passed on the secrets of the craft to his heir and the secret was thus passed on from one generation to the next. The family has received several awards from national and international organizations like the Indian Government and the UNESCO for innovating and producing this unique decorative art form. To know more about the process used in crafting out this jewelry, please visit the site:
9. Makrana Marble
A very famous variety of white marble, the Makrana marble is a high quality marble mined in the Makrana town in Rajasthan, India. It has been used in the construction of several iconic monuments like the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata and the Taj Mahal in Agra. Makrana is regarded as the oldest place in India where marble was produced. The mined marble is not exposed to any form of treatment but is cut and chiselled straight away. There are 2 varieties of this marble, white and albeta. Over 400 mines in the region produce about 120 thousand tons of marble each year. The marble reserve in Makrana is believed to be about 55 million tons.
The Makrana marble is considered to be 98% calcium carbonate with very little impurities. The water absorption is the lowest among all marble types in the country. The varieties of the Makrana marble include pure white, white with pink shades, and white with gray shades depending on the percentage of impurities present. The marble is said to retain its whiteness and shine for a long duration.
The Makrana marble is exported to many areas overseas, mainly the countries in the Persian Gulf, European Union, Southeast Asia, Russia, and Canada. The marble is not just used in building construction, but is also used in the preparation of many types of sculpture and handicrafts.
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