Thursday, July 31, 2008

Stone Craft in India

To the worshipper, a stone assumes a powerful spiritual form the moment it is lifted, washed and put under a tree or a canopy with a tripund, trident, marked on it. Consecrated thus, it charges the cultural milieu with emotional and religious significance. The stone, now sanctified, becomes a being to be revered, loved and feared. This stone, whether cut or uncut, carved or just a roughly hewn shape, represents the human aspiration to visualise God. This aspiration, over the centuries, has inspired the Indian artist to created a tradition, singularly rihc in artistic imagination.Stone images in India concretise a spiritual longing, ensuring the continuance of a tradition.
In Madhya Pradesh, too, as in other parts of the country, tribal Stone Craft reflects the emotonal and spiritual aspirations of the tribal people, with the carvings and sculptures of deities giving them a sense of security and well-being. Different tribal areas produce different deities, some special to a particular tribe, others from amongst the more pan-Indian Hindu ones. Besides the deities, memorial stones and pillars, and small household vessels are also important products of the stone carvers' skill.
Soapstone is the main material used for shaping and carving idols. Many villages in Bastar have shrines with stone idols. The villages of bade Dongar, Chhota Dongar, Dantewada, Narangpal, Bastar, Kondagaon, Chapka and Amravati are well known for their stone dev-gude, shrines.
The main centres of Stone Craft in the Bastar area are Ektaguda, Pujaripara, Parasapara and Deogaon, as well as Khhachgaon, Golabund and Bahara. The main objects of stone craft in this area are idols of locally worshipped deities and these are usually sanctified and worshipped by the entire village.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Jute Crafts from India

Indian jute handicrafts are famous all over the world. Skillled artists craft many items of daily practical use from jute fibre. Jute items are gaining popularity because it is the cheapest known natural fibre and is 100 per cent eco-friendly. Jute is used cheifly to make sacks and coarse cloth. The fibres are also woven into curtains, chair coverings, scarves, area rugs, and backing for linoleum.
West Bengal is the home of jute handicrafts from India. Craftsmen here create innumerable utilitarian items made from jute. A wide range of home decor and furnishings like cushion-covers, beautiful and colorful, jute floorings, table-covers, tea cozies etc, are also made from jut, Garments made out of woven jute fibre are gaining popularity. Jute fabrics are decorated with tie and dye, embroidery and blcok printing. Jute is also used for making baskets, mats and beautiful toys.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Folk Art Paintings of Patachitra



Orissa craftsmen, generally create paintings on cloth, in the form of scrolls. These paintings are known as Patachitra and mainly depict stories pertaining to Jagannath temple of Puri. Mainly cotton or tussar silk is used and coated with a mixture of chalk, tamarind seed and gum to give the surface of the cloth a leathery texture. These paintings are created in the form of scrolls. These painted scrolls depict mythology and stories relating to various gods and goddesses. These paintings are known for bright vibrant colors and distinct lines.

Kundan Jewellery from India

Kundan Jewelry:

One of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India is the kundan jewellery. Kundan work is a method of gem setting, consisting of inserting gold foil between the stones and its mount. Kundan work is often combined with meenakari, so that a piece of jewllery has two equally beautiful surfaces, enamel at the back end and kundan set gems in the front. Meenakari involves the fusion of colored minerals, such as cobalt oxide for blue and copper oxede for green. This gives the effect of precious stone inlay work on the surface of the metal.
Jaipur is the main centre of kundan jewellery. The famous Johri bazaar is the nerve centre of this craft. Nathdwara is known for its silver kundan work. Bikaner is also known for its kundan work.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

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  • Sunday, July 20, 2008

    Kurti India Wear Beautiful Summer Dress

    Kurti and Tunic is very much in fashion these days. Kurti is a women's top. Girls love to wear Kurti very much. Kurti gives a very comfort feeling in summers. Girls wear Kurti over jeans, Salwar, Pant, Capri and even a skirt. Kurtis look decent and sincere, versatile and stylish, trendy yet modest. Indian Kurtis will lend grace to any woman's wardrobe. Indian Kurtis are accepted worldwide.The Kurti is the ideal year around wear. Embroidered Kurti, Designer Kurtis , Long Tunics, Printed Kurti, Cotton Kurtas, Lenin Kurtis, Georgette Kurti, Long Kurtis, Short Kurtis, Traditional Kurti, Ethnic Kurtis and Fashion Kurtis are the variants of Indian Fashion Kurtis. A Kurti-Tunic surely give attractive and decent look to a woman.

    Saturday, July 12, 2008

    The Silk Sarees of Southern India

    The silk saree of southern India are a class by themselves. They use heavy lustrous silk and broad borders and elaborate pallus, with contrasting color combinations, which result in harmonious color blends. Traditionally the patterning is part of the woven fabric and not an extra weft. The checks and stripes are woven into the warp and weft. The delicate buds known as mallimogu, jasmine buds, form a part of the weave itself and accentuate the texture, and are woven into the body of the silk saree in contrasting colors.
    Kancheepuram, Tanjore and Kumbakonam, which are the important pilgrim centres are also important textile centres of Tamil Nadu. Sangareddy and Dharmaswaram in Andhra Pradesh, Kolegal and Molkalmoru in Mysore are also famous silk weaving centres.
    Tanjore specialised in weaving the all over gold work sarees used for weddings and for offering to temples. These carried rich broad borders in gold work and pallus with patterns derived from temple griezes.

    Thursday, July 10, 2008

    Salwar Kameez - The Decades-Old Indian Attire

    salwar kameez has been a part of the Indian attire for decades. Even in the 40's Salwar was visible on the Indian horizon. Though women were more prone to be seen in the 'wrapparel' other modes of dresses were also part of the Indian Fashion culture.
    The reason for the popularity of the saree was and is mainly the fact that the country is economically not very sound. The pro rata income has been one of the lowest in the worls. The saree was an apparel which could be wrapped around by any female member of the household. Sisters, mothers and daughters could drape the some saree on different occasions. Thus one garment could be used by several members of a family. This was one of the main reasons for the popularity of the saree.
    The basic saree comprised of six metres of cloth of different makes. Designs and borders were added to this wrapparel to enhance its appeal. In the north the Chunari Saree, featured repeatedly in the ancient paintings, made their appearance. Though saree was the main apparel for women, other modes of attire were also taking shape. The Salwar Kameez was also apparent on the Indian scene.But the salwar was confined to only certain locales, loke the chunari choli which was retricted to Rajasthan and Kutch, the salwar stayed within the confines and boundaries of Punjab.

    Monday, July 7, 2008

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    Saturday, July 5, 2008

    Torans & Wall Hangings for Home Decoration

    All the communities of India decorate their doors with garlands on ceremonial days. Strings of mango leaves and saffron-colored, fragrant marigolds are hung in gentle loops on the door. These are called torans. However, toran is also the term applies to the various cloth, metal or paper buntings that are hung over the door. Scallops, triangles or inverted arches are most used in torans and each state has its toran speciality. Floral torans are made to order in a particular color or with an array of vividly colored flowers.

    Thursday, July 3, 2008

    Yoga, A Way of Living

    Yoga, a way of living disciplined and calm life, is originated from the ancient scriptures of India like Upnishadas and Bhgwadgita. Developed further by the famous Sage Patanjali, Yoga is now practiced by common people all over the world as an integral part of their day-to-day living for a healthy body and a sound mindyoga clothing
    Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’, meaning to bind or to join, Yoga is the art of living that enables the human beings to strike a balance between the mind and the body. This balance ultimately leads to a harmonic bond between the body and soul and in turn with the Almighty. Since it binds these factors together, hence the name Yoga. Yoga is an integral part of Hinduism, largely looked at as a religion, is in fact a way of leading a pure life. A life full of compassion, care and discipline. Hinduism is based on the fact that this life is a journey, the destination of which is the unification with the Almighty. Just like different streamlets that flow unceasably to meet the ocean, the human beings too travel all through their lives to become one with the Almighty at the end. Hinduism believes that the unification of soul with the Almighty is possible only when a life is lead in a pure and disciplined way. And it is the various stages of Yoga that helps one lead a disciplined and calm life. The first reference to yoga can be traced in the great Hindu scripture, Upnishad . It is referred to as a way of leading a virtuous life. It is described through the lives of the great sages. The most significance reference from the ancient time is found in the Bhagwad Geeta, the most important portion of the great Hindu epic Mahabharata. Bhagwad Geeta literally meaning the Song of God, is a discourse on life and death by lord Krishna for Arjuna, the great warrior. There Krishna explains the various aspects of Yoga and also deals with the lifestyle that can lead a human being to reach him as he finishes the journey of his life. He also talks about the kind of food, the kind of outlook, the kind of behaviour that relates to Yoga and a Yogic life. Based on these facts and evidences from the time immemorial, a great sage called Patanjali, wrote his memorable book on Yoga, Patanjali Sutra.

    Tuesday, July 1, 2008

    Lord Ganesha - A Hindu Deity

    GanapatiAmong the many deities worshiped by the Hindus, Lord Ganesha has in some ways pride of place. It is not that he is considered to be superior to the great Gods Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, or the Goddesses, but he has a special place in the affection or people and no worship of any kind or of any other deity can begin without an initial worship to Ganesha, among whose many names is Vighneshwara, remover of obstacles.
    With the rise in importance of the Ganpatya cult for whom Ganapati was the supreme God, this deity was absorbed into Hinduism as the son of Shiva and Parvati.God Ganesha
    The assimilation was very slow as Ganapati was a folk deity of various pre-Vedic and Tantric sects. However the Ganapatya sect was very powerful and widespread and the great philosopher, Adi Shankara himself gave them importance this sect as one of the six systems of Hindu worship.
    The absorption of Ganesha was achieved through legends and stories in the various Puranas which abound in stories of Ganesha. Although most of the Puranas and Up Puranas have incidents from the life of Ganesha, the main legends are in the Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Skanda Purana, Varaaha Purana, Matsya Purana and Padma Purana and in the two Upa Puranas, the Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana.
    These legends refer not only to the birth of Ganesha and his achievements and conquests but also to teh miracles by which he acquired his elephant head.