Swapna

Esha

Swastika

Diyasha Chowdhury

Naomi Dewicka

Simran Agarwal

Sara Gogna

Read about the rich history and significance of intricate art to vibrant colours of Textiles made in India.

Textiles of India

Chikankari designs on kurtis have been in vogue recently in this era. From dark shades to pastel ones, they have been stealing hearts. Its timeless elegance has earned it a number of hearts. Along with other valuable gifts, the city of Nawabs has also gifted India the art of Chikankari, or the Chikankari design. 

Chikankari, the luxurious artwork

Tradition plays a very significant role in every Indian’s life. From festivals to clothing, everything clearly screams tradition. One of the most traditional clothing items would undoubtedly be Sarees, the most well-known traditional Indian piece of clothing worn by Indian women and nowadays by women all across the world. There are several different types of sarees when it comes to design and material and several different ways to drape a saree. One of the most beautiful types of saree adorned by Indian women is Banarasi Silk Sarees.

The beauty of Banarasi Silk Sarees

The strands of the origins of Kashmiri Shawl’s story, speak volumes about why this fabric has gained the significance it has earned till date. From the silken threads of Pashmina to now banned Shahtoosh, the history of Kashmiri Shawl is as wonderful as any legend in the making.

The 'Fiber of the Kings': the charming finery of Kashmiri Shawl

Chanderi is a historic fabric. Made out of a myriad melange of cotton and silk, with a unique texture and feel adorning beautiful motifs, these saris date back to India's medieval past. How and where were they first woven, who wore them and how have they changed now?

Chanderi Fabric: A beautiful rendition of silk

The story of Kantha, a simple traditional hand made embroidery originating from the households of Bengal and Bihar. An ancient stitching technique passed down from mother to daughter, that reuses old cloth which makes it relevant in today's era of sustainability as well. 

Kantha: The Sustainable Embroidery of Bengal

In this world of fashion and fancy, one design beats all westernized people. The one style that has taken over the entire textile market. The one word uttered by every buyer in the shops. Be it with textiles or painting; handbags or mugs; this one painting, this one printing ruled out all the design and now sits in the homes of all individuals in different forms. It is none other than Kalamkari, pure love!

KALAMKARI THE NATURAL ART

Art can be found in so many variants. It can be found in music, dance, sketching, painting, and whatnot. Just like that, one very beautiful form of art is the hand-block painting technique of Sanganer, Rajasthan.



Sanganeri Print Of Rajasthan

From Pashmina in the north to Kanjevaram in the South, India is home to a variety of indigenous textiles. While some have gained popularity, others are hidden gems of thread that are yet to be woven. Tamil Nadu gave birth to the world-famous Kanjevaram silk in all its splendour. However, the fertile land of Tamil Nadu gave rise to another famous textile known as the Kandangi saree.


Kandangi Saree: Lets Wrap The Tough Spirit 

Paithani has become the most versatile and beautiful Indian Dressing of all time. Let us learn about the legacy of one of the most loved sarees. 

The Queen of Silk Sarees: Paithani 

Have you heard of a whole line of textiles being made with the most significant tool being fingers and nails? Gujarat’s Bandhani is that line of textile. As much as you might think that the name Bandhani should relate to something being tied up, you’re not there yet but are very close! 

Bandhani, the love of Gujarat

Bhagalpuri silk is one of the apt representations of the rich heritage of Indian handlooms. It's unique technique, style and design of weaving make it truly mesmerizing. 


Bhagalpuri Silk of Bihar

Khushi Mishra

Priyanka Rout

Muskaan Gupta

Debasmita Dutta

Uncovering the Rich Heritage of Tribal Art: A Journey Through Culture and Creativity

Tribal Art of India

Warli is a quotidian art that flourishes especially in recent times. It appears anywhere and everywhere including dress materials, bag prints, paintings, and many more. In those days the first drawing by a little champ would be the common apple with its leaf. But today, from a kid to an old lady, anyone can be an artist because of Warli for its easy figures and captivating delivery. 


Warli Painting: The Language of the Warli tribe

Art has evolved with time all around the world. One form isn't just limited to one culture, one state or one country. The dynamism and the diversity has increased with a rapid rate. From huge installations to the tiniest brush-stroke, the evolution is mind blowing. One of these art forms is the miniature painting which is not less than any of the seven wonders of the world. 	

Miniature Paintings of India

Beautiful Tanjore paintings are unique from other paintings for their artistic mastery. They were created on wooden boards which are locally known as Palagai Padam, which means “paintings done on a wooden plank”. These Tanjore paintings are the legacy of the art of Tanjore and the pride of Tamilnadu's art history.  

Tanjore Painting: The Gilded Art of Tamil Nadu 

Did you know out of all the forms of paintings and art, there is one that plays a huge role in preventing deforestation? This form of art is used to paint pictures of gods and deities on trees in Bihar which helped prevent people from chopping down those trees due to their strong beliefs in those who they worship. The art form is none other than Madhubani Art.

Madhubani: An art that is everywhere

From the tribe of Mata Sabri comes the primitive painting called the Saura painting. Dated back to the 1st  century B.C.,  these paintings have been the closest form of literature the Saura tribe has. Saura art is a mural style art painted on walls by Kudangs while they narrate the deeper meaning of the symbols they are painting. The colours used in these paintings are natural, like rice, which is soaked and ground into a thick paste and then used to paint the mural with a bamboo brush. These murals portray the history of the Saura tribe, their philosophy, ceremonies and religious practices.          

The Captivating Mural art of Ancient India – The Saura Painting

The Captivating Mural art of Ancient India: The Saura Painting

The colorful tribal communities of India are one great source of simple and indigenous art forms. Yet, the spectacular art of the Bhil community is one such which pays tribute to the basic natural elements which are foundational to man’s survival on earth while depicting stories of simple people who derive their life source from nature—giving the message that life is all about an act of balancing.

The Dots of Co-existence: The Spectacular Charm of Bhil Art

The Dots of Coexistence: The Spectacular Charm of Bhil Art 

The Dots of Co-existence: The Spectacular Charm of Bhil Art 

Gond painters allow themselves the opportunity to represent everything their creative imagination conjures, from the attractiveness of a small ant surrounded by thick grass to a magnificent deer with antlers that becomes a blossoming tree with birds perched on it, to horses; flying "as they did in past times."


Gond Paintings: From The Laps Of Nature

Tied inextricably to the much-famed Jagannath tradition, is the indigenous and vivid art of Orissa, known as the Pattachitra. Its history is one drowned in deep colors of traditions, mythical stories, kingly and priestly patronage, and a local village where every person is skilled in an intricate art form that has over the years acquired divine fame. It is one of the oldest and most famous art forms practiced mostly in Odisha and West Bengal.

Pattachitra- A gem in the saga of Odisha’s cultural memoirs 

Pattachitra: A gem in the saga of Odisha’s cultural memoirs 

In the jasmine and sandalwood-scented premises of Kerala’s temples leading to the sanctum sanctorum, one may find the skilled designs of a troop of artists dressed in white or saffron. They are hard at work, channeling their vision into a portrait with intricate and colourful powdered strokes. Kalamezhuthu, as widely believed, impresses the presiding deity as the divine spirit finds its image at the sanctum’s entrance. But besides its traditional purpose, it brings out a popular artistic skill – floor painting and its significance in Hindu religious rites. 

Kalamezhuthu: Divinity and Devotion in the Art of Floor Painting

When foreign tourists visit India to experience and relive its vibrant hues and happy lands, they often return with souvenirs. During the early 19th and 20th centuries, both foreign and indigenous tourists who visited the historical Kalighat Temple in Kolkata never forgot to bring with them the Kalighat paintings as mementos and souvenirs. The paintings showcased extraordinarily bright hues, bold strokes, pragmatic situations, and pious, profane, and gracious subjects and caught the visitors' attention in a flash.


Kalighat Paintings: From The Lanes Of Kolkata

A traditional ritual in the central and western parts of India now recognized as a distinct art form. Pithora paintings, generally drawn on house walls for good omen, from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are a window to the rich culture of the indigenous tribes of India. 

Pithora Art: Where every painting tells a different story

Kawad art from Rajasthan is a creation that uses beautiful caricatures painted in a wooden box to tell stories about mythology and legends. While Kawad is associated with a storytelling ritual, it is now time for it to tell its own story.