Arts of IndiaMadhya Pradesh- the land of tribal artistsThe Wonder of Nirmal PaintingsPainting on Palm LeavesContemporary artworks - Women on canvasMadhubani Paintings - The art of women paintersColors of Passion - Women in Raja Ravi Varma's paintings Read Full Story

Wood carvings of Assam Assam in northeastern India is a state with rich cultural heritage. It has an opulent treasure of art and handicraft that is thousands of years old. The woodcrafts of Assam are a folk tradition of this state that was enriched by the Ahom kings since the 14th century AD. The intricately designed woodcarving adorned the doors, walls, beams and ceilings of the royal palaces, Vaishnavite monasteries and temple of the goddess Kamakhya. The Khanikars are the people of th... Read Full Story

Dokra or Dhokra is a tribal craft of India. The Dokra artisans originally belonged to a nomadic group of people scattered across Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. Over centuries, these tribal artists settled down in these three Indian states, making them the centers of Dokra handicraft of India. Dokra is a form of metal casting that is technically known as cire perdue or the lost wax process. In this process, first a cast of the metal product is made with wax on fi... Read Full Story

The history of Paithani sari weaving is over 2000 years old. We find mention of the Paithani fabrics in the Rig Veda and in the ancient Greek texts. These majestic silk saris are noted for their richly ornate zari or gold pallav and border.The best weavers of Maharashtra are employed in the weaving of these gorgeous saris. The simplest Paithani sari takes about a month to be completed, whereas the saris with elaborate brocade designs could take over 6 months to be completed. Individual variet... Read Full Story

Kashmir is home to the finest quality of walnut wood in the world. It is the only state in India where walnut grows. The texture and quality of the walnut wood differs even on the same plant. The wood acquired from the root of walnut tree is almost black in color and is the most expensive part of the tree. The trunk of the walnut tree is lighter in color and the branches have the lightest color that appears nearly blonde. Walnut wood is carved to create beautiful furniture and showpieces... Read Full Story

Budhiti is wonderful metalwork of Andhra Pradesh. This metalwork originated in the village of Budhiti in Srikakulam district. Metal alloys, especially brass and bell metals, are beautifully crafted to make a large variety of articles, ranging from common household utensils to objects of home décor. Geometric patterns popularly adorn the alloy objects but one may also come across floral patterns on Budhiti works. Read Full Story

Carpet weaving is not an indigenous craft of India. It was the Mughal rulers of India, who first introduced carpet weaving in the 16th century. Over time carpet weaving traveled to Rajasthan, and the Rajput rulers of Amber and Jaipur patronized the art. The thick woolen carpets with their rich paisley designs, comparable to the carpets of Persia gradually traveled from the homes of the kings to the common citizens of the country. The heavy carpets over time attained the form of the cool, li... Read Full Story

Just like every other Indian state, Madhya Pradesh, the heartland of India has its own varieties of saris – Chanderi and Maheshwari.Chanderi Sari Traditionally Chanderi sari was made of cotton. The cotton Chanderi sarees competed with the fine muslin saris of Bengal. However, after the Industrial Revolution the locally grown Chanderi brand of cotton lost its prominence as yarn from Manchester made inroads to the Indian subcontinent. Since, 1930, silk was introduced to the looms of Chande... Read Full Story

If you have carefully watched the jewelries adorning the body of Bharatnatyam, Odissi or Mohiniattam dancers, you would definitely not miss their ornate waist belt. This waist belt, known as Vaddanam or Odiyanam is the traditional jewelry popular in Southern parts of India. Traditionally made of gold and studded with precious stones, the waist belt or the Vaddanam is an ornament that might cost a fortune. Above you see a gold waist belt with precious stones created by the jewelry house Cher... Read Full Story

In India, some religious communities do not put garlic in their dishes. For them the best alternative to garlic is Hing or asafetida. The Kashmiri Hindus for instance put Hing in their meat dishes as an alternative to garlic. Asafetida or Hing besides its culinary application, which gives the food its strong pungent flavor, has a number of health benefits. The pinch of reddish powder that we put in our food while cooking is the dried latex derived from the rhizome or root of a plant call... Read Full Story