The Rich Heritage of Handicrafts in India

Handicraft is an art form that reflects the culture and essence of a country. India is a country that is known for its art and culture, and its handicrafts serve as the gateway to its ethnicity. Fortunately, artisans have always formed a majority in the Indian population, which has led to the thriving of Indian handicrafts since centuries. Even today, you can find several rural families surviving on handcrafts alone.

Handcrafts in India are of several types that help you dress up as well as decorate the interiors of your home or office. Some of the most well-known handcrafts in India are:

Bamboo Handicrafts: These handcrafts form one of the most eco-friendly pieces of art in India. Bamboo is used to make several items such as furniture, baskets, mats, umbrella handles, jewelry boxes, crossbows, wall-hangings, dolls, toys etc. West Bengal, Tripura and Assam are the hubs of bamboo handcrafts.

Cane Handicrafts: Famous in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, cane is used to make baskets, trays, furniture etc.

Bell Metal Handicrafts: This is the hard form of the bronze metal that is used to make bells. The metal is used to make bowls, vermillion boxes, candle stands, pendants etc. The states famous for this craft are Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.

Bone and Horn Handicrafts: Originating in Odisha, this form of handicraft is used to make animal and bird figures. Besides, articles like pen stands, ornaments, table lamps, cigarette cases, chess sets, salt sets, napkin rings etc. are made with bones and horns. Besides Odisha, the art form is prevalent in Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh etc.

Brass Handicrafts: Brassware is quite popular and can be found in every home in India. The most common and popular pieces of brassware are utensils, crawling Krishna, the figure of Lord Ganesha in various poses, table tops, vases, perforated lamps, jewelry boxes, wine glasses, hukkas, toys etc. Rajasthan is popular for brassware. Brassware artisans are called ‘Kansaris’ in India.

Pottery: With its origin dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization, pottery is one of the most ancient forms of Indian handicrafts. Besides terracotta, its other popular forms are Red Ware, Black Ware and Grey Ware. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Pune, Bikaner and Himachal Pradesh are best known for pottery items.

Jute Handicrafts: This form of handicraft has created a niche for itself across the world. Bags, bangles, footwear, jewelry, office stationeries etc. made of jute are being widely used across the world.

Besides these, there are several other forms of handcrafts in India like rock, shell, paper, silver filigree, weaving, wood handcrafts and many more.

The best government administered handicraft shops in India are Dilli Haat in Delhi, Kala Madhyam in Bangalore, MESH in Hyderabad, Khazana in Taj Hotels, Ekamra Haat in Bhubaneshwar and Rajasthali in Jaipur.

However, no need to worry if you cannot visit India to shop for the handcrafts because you can easily order them @ online Indian handicrafts store. There are many online shopping sites that have good collections of Indian handicrafts; you simply need to visit them, choose what you want and place an order. And the product will reach your home in a few days.