Arts Of India

Indian textile is one of the most primitive in the world.  India’s textiles are rooted in every aspect of the country’s identity.   The dawning of Indian textiles can be uncovered to the Indus valley civilization around the early 5th millennium BC.  The culture, heritage, and magnificent design works are represented through clothes. The rich natural resources and the handwoven designs from the Indian artists make Indian textile one of a kind. Global trade systems were formed on the export of Indian fabrics, and it continues to shape India even today.  Textile and clothing have always played a dominant role in the trade and business of India. Even abroad, in countries like  Rome, China, Greece,  and  Egypt  everywhere traces have been found of Indian fabric.  Clothes have always been intrinsic to mankind's identity. During the Vedic times (5000 BC) clothing was seen as a power-changing mechanism towards the global scenario of freedom of I...

When it comes to the richness of art and culture, West Bengal stands out to be one of the most unique and diverse states. The foreign powers play a major role in the gradual changes that influenced the arts and crafts, providing an artistic diversity in the forms of dance, music, traditional handicrafts, painting, and carving. However, Bengal prides itself on the imprint which it carries beyond the foreign influences, ancient and modern. Paintings of West Bengal Patachitra Painting One of the most magnificent cultural heritages of West Bengal is the Patachitra painting. Naya village of Paschim Medinipur area shelters approximately 250 Patuas or chitrakars, who specialize in the art of Patachitra. Innovative aspects such as  Durga Pat, Chalchitra, Kalighat Patachitra, Medinipur Patachitra,  and so on are peculiar to West Bengal.  Different regions of Bengal have expertise in the creation of different colours and designs of Patachitra painting. For instance, Patachitra art ...

Rathyatra, 'Rath' means Chariot and 'Yatra' means journey, is an age-old Chariot festival in India. It is a Hindu religious festival associated with Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Goddess Subhadra. Rathyatra takes place every year in Puri in the state of Odisha. It is also celebrated in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and other parts of India as well as abroad. Rathyatra is the oldest chariot festival in the world. Its reference and description are even found in ancient religious books, like Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapil Samhita which were written thousands of years ago. Legends behind the Appearances of the Deities The deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, unlike the deities of other Gods and Goddesses, found elsewhere in India, are significantly different in appearance. The deities are also made up of wood, cloth, and resin which is a striking difference between the carefully craf...

Since time immemorial, sports and board games have been a significant part of India’s diverse culture, history, and heritage. Board games were mainly played for amusements and pleasures. However, there were also grave contests held among the Kings or the ministers. Winning those challenges needed clarity of thoughts, sharp judgment skills, or seldom, absolutely on luck alone. History of Board Games in India We find the references of several board games through the documentation of various notable historical figures. One of them was Ab-ul Fazl, the court historian of Akbar. He writes about the great Pachisi  Courtyard, which was built by Akbar in the 16th century. This courtyard is a prominent and remarkable feature in the complex of Fatehpur Sikri.  Through archeological sources, some of the earliest evidence of board games can be traced from Indus Valley Civilisation. In the later years, the games like chaupar ,  chaturanga, backgammon  developed and became popul...

A saree can convert a lady into an artist’s muse , is rightly said by several eminent designers. This six yard of sheer elegance has its origin in the Indus Valley Civilisation, which came into being in North-West India during 2800–1800 BC. Indian women have been illustrating a huge variety of saree draping styles, starting from Nivi style of Deccan to Atpoure style of Bengal. Considered as a cultural icon, the saree is worn with a fitted bodice and a petticoat, which is generally fabricated from a soft and breathable material, like cotton.  How did this Name Originate? The Hindustani word ‘ Saree’  is derived from the Sanskrit word  ‘Sati ’ and Pali word ‘ Sadi ’, which means a 'strip of cloth'. Gradually, with the development of modern Indian languages, the word ‘Saree’ came into form. In ancient Sanskrit Literature, the word 'Sattika' has been mentioned to describe women’s attire. Even in  Jatakas , we can find several mentions and descriptions of the attire which...

Papier-Mâché is a French word whose literal meaning is chewed/pulped or mashed paper. It is an art technique that uses pieces of paper or pulp bound with adhesives like glue, starch, or wallpaper paste for making various items, of common use, or for decoration. ORIGIN The origin of Papier-Mâché dates back to Imperial China in 200 AD when the Han Dynasty was ruling. It came to the forefront after the paper was invented. Papier-Mâché works were also found in ancient Egypt, Middle East, Kashmir, and Japan.              The use of Papier-Mâché started in Europe in 1725 where it was used in architecture. In America and Mexico, Papier-Mâché sculptures are considered traditional handicrafts. They are known as ‘ Cartonería’  or ‘ Carton-piedra’  (rock cardboard). Paper boat making was first started in America during the 19th century. TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS USED Papier-Mâché requires composite materials for making vario...

When it comes to the richness of art and culture, West Bengal stands out to be one of the most unique and diverse states. The various foreign reigns have highly influenced the art and architecture of the state. However, Bengal prides itself on the imprint which it carries beyond the foreign influences, ancient and modern.  Jamdani Owing to its origin in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jamdani is popularly known as  Dhakai Jamdani . The royal patronage of Mughal rulers helped to flourish the finest weaving techniques of Jamdani. Throughout the fabric, floral motifs and geometric patterns are woven exquisitely with golden threads. One of the most expensive fabrics is the Muslin Jamdanis which were highly in demand during the Mughal period. However, over time, cheaper fabrics substituted Muslin, which in turn offer a contemporary look. The age-old tradition of the weaving art of Jamdani was included in  Unesco’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity  in 201...