The Artisans Blog

Bringing Home Ganesha- The Indian Way

Every year around the time of August-September, the Indian subcontinent witnesses one of the most grandly celebrated festivals in the country- Ganesh Chaturthi. However, it was not always a public celebration.

History has to say that performing puja on Lord Ganesha’s janam divas (birthday) every year was initially started by Shivaji maharaj of the Maratha empire who used to worship the Lord as Kuladevata or the family god of the Peshwas. For a long time, it is believed to have been celebrated only amongst that family.

Centuries later in 1892, as India was suffering under the British rule, freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak reinvented Ganesh Chaturthi and urged Hindus to come forward and take part in a 10-day long festival. It was his strategy to bring everyone together and instil a feeling of nationalism and patriotism.

British watched in awe as the streets were decorated and pandals set up. Different people in Mumbai and Pune sprawled the streets to celebrate the birth of Lord Ganesha.

What started as a nationalist movement in Maharashtra has grown into a nation-wide festival with each state honouring the Lord in their own unique way.

Take a look at some-

Maharashtra:

This state unarguably celebrates the festival in the largest scale. Preparations start out early as houses are cleaned and decorated to welcome the Lord. Every household here brings home an idol of the Lord with great care and pujas are performed all 10 days in a very ritualistic manner. Elaborate and exquisite pandals are set up in every locality where enormous idols of the Lord are placed, and cultural performances take place. Sweets and savouries like modak are prepared during this time

On the 10^th day, the idols are immersed in nearby rivers or other water bodies. This process is called Visarjan where Lord Ganesha is taken to the river in a huge procession along with music, dances and more. Puneri Dhol and Nashik Dhol are famous performances during this time.

Other states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also follow a similar suit.

Karnataka:

This South Indian state celebrates the festival in a slightly varied manner. Here, prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha along with Devi Gauri- mother of the Lord and hence, he is called Gauri Ganesha. This puja is performed especially by married woman in order to seek blessings from the goddess to fill their marital life with contentment and prosperity.

Rajasthan:

Here, people first make a visit to any famous temple of Lord Ganesha near them like the Moti Dongri temple in Jaipur and get a darshan of the Lord and then install small idols of him in their houses. The idols are washed in red Kumkum and are adorned with a garland of red flowers. Ladoos are distributed among family and friends.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that brings together people that are otherwise differentiated by traditions, cultures, geographical boundaries, castes etc.

An idol of Lord Ganesha always brings in good luck and wards off evil. We house come exquisite models of the Lord that are crafted with great precision and are handmade. Select yours today from our collection “Glories of Ganesha” and get it customised to your requirements.

Buddhipriya: The God of Knowledge and Wisdom

Worshipped as the bestow-er of boons and god of wisdom, Lord Ganesha is one of the supreme gods of Hindu mythology and religion.

He has quite many anecdotes revolving around him and he makes appearances in most of the mythological stories. One such very interesting instance is when maha-muni Veda Vyasa asked Lord Ganesha to pen down the great epic of Mahabharata.

Lord Ganesha agreed to do so on the condition that once Veda Vyasa begins to narrate the story, he would not stop and if he fails to do so, Lord Ganesha would walk away from the project. Veda Vyasa being aware of the Lord’s supreme abilities put forth another condition that Lord Ganesha would not take down any narration unless he fully understood it. That way, whenever maha-muni needed some rest, he would phrase a complex sentence that would need some time for Lord Ganesha to decipher.

Thus, began the writing of one of the greatest epics of all time- The Mahabharata. This instance is a fine example of how a guru’s tactfulness can bring to order a finicky mind.

Tale also has it that as Lord Ganesha was writing Mahabhrata, the nib of his pen broke off. He did not waste another moment and broke off his tusk to continue the task.

This is just one of the many instances of the wonders and glories of the Lord.

He is also known as the Lord who removes obstacles and puts one in the path of success. It is for this reason that at least one idol or painting of the Lord is found in every Hindu household, especially in the entrance hall to ward off any evil energy. A brief puja of the Lord is also performed before commencing any function or event to ensure fruitful results.

Did you know that there are several representations of Lord Ganesha and each has its own meaning and purpose? Read further to find out.

1. Sitting posture:

An often-depicted pose of the Lord is him sitting in Lalita Aasana. He is seated either on a Lotus or a throne with one leg folded and the other resting on the ground. This pose symbolises his interest in the worldly affairs of his devotees.

2. Standing posture:

With Ganesh Chaturthi just around the corner, you are sure to find this posture of the Lord in a number of Pandals. This posture is called Abhanga Aasana which literally means “not-bent”. It represents agility and attitude.

3. Sleeping posture:

This one depicts the Lord in a luxurious state where he is shown reclining against a pillow on a grand throne/sofa. This posture represents immense prosperity and is often found in workspaces and offices.

4. Dancing posture:

The Lord here is shown merrily dancing to his music. Such idols are said to bring in vibes of joy, happiness and vibrance.

Not just his posture but the position of his trunk also holds great significance.

1. Trunk turned right:

Called the Siddhi Vinayaka, such an idol where the trunk of the Lord is turned right is said to invoke the energy of the sun. Such idols are often found in temples as these need to be properly worshipped following all rituals and procedures.

2. Trunk turned left:

Contrary to Siddhi Vinayaka, this idol is said to invoke the energies of the moon and represents Ida Nadi. These are the type of idols often found in households as they are said to bring in peace and serenity.

3. Trunk being straight:

Such idols are a rare kind and they symbolise that the central axis of the human body is open. It conveys the message of alignment with oneself.

We have curated a collection of beautiful paintings and sculptures of Lord Ganesha.

Click here to find artefacts that are handmade by traditional artisans. Contact us for customization options so you get art pieces that are curated to your wants and needs.

Bringing Home Lord Jagannath- The Story of Puri

Around 3000 years ago, there lived a king who ruled the present-day Puri district in Odisha. Named Indradyumna, he was destined to build an abode for Lord Jagannath himself which is now widely visited and worshipped as The Puri Jagannath Temple.

King Indradyumna was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu and wished to have a darshan (vision) of him. One fine day, he came to know of the Nila Madhava which is said to be an incarnation of the Lord and sent brahmins in all directions in search of it. Each one of them returned unsuccessful expect one named Vidyapati. Priest Vidyapati gained the knowledge of the Nila Madhava through his wife whose father, Vishvasu worshipped the incarnation but kept it in secrecy. When Vishvasu came to know of this, he immediately bound his son-in-law forbidding him from informing the same to King Indradyumna in the fear of not being able to worship Nila Madhava anymore. He however had to set him free at the request of his daughter and King Indradyumna was thus informed.

With much hope and excitement, the king set out to reach Nila Madhava but was unable to find it in the location that Vidyapati gave him. Just then, a voice claiming to be Lord Vishnu’s directed him to construct a temple atop the Nila Hill saying he will manifest himself in a wooden form as Daru-Brahman there.

As directed the King constructed the temple. One night, Lord Vishnu appeared in Indradyumna’s dreams and asked him to collect the Daru Brahman from the shore near a place called Bankimuhan. With the help of Vishvasu and Vidyapati, the king installed the Daru-Brahman in the temple.

A skilled sculptor called Ananta Maharana was appointed to sculpt idols out of the wood. He however had a strange request to be left alone inside the temple for twenty-one days and that no one should open the doors until then. Fourteen days down the line, the king grew anxious and broke his promise thus opening the doors. To his astonishment, he found no sculptor but three idols- each of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram and Devi Subhadra. As a result of the broken promise, the sculptor vanished without carving the hands and legs thereby proving that the sculptor was none other that Lord Vishnu himself.

Every year in the month of Ashadha, the three idols at the Puri Jagannath Temple are taken on a grand procession called the Rath Yatra. This is a festive event in Odisha which involves the idols being mounted on elaborate and richly decorated chariots which are pulled through the streets of Puri on a three kilometres journey to Gundicha temple where they are kept for nine days and then taken back to the Shri Mandir.

This year, the Rath Yatra took place on 4^th of July and saw a number of devotees taking part in the event. On 24^th of next month, we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna- Janmashtami. Bring home an idol of little Krishna to mark the festival and to bring peace, love and the blessings of the Lord to your doorstep.

Find some exquisite paintings, sculptures and more of Lord Krishna in our collection of the month- “Glimpses of Krishna”. 

A Tale That Transcends Time: The Krishna Bhagavatam

Centuries ago, on a tempestuous midnight in the Hindu month of Shravan was born a dark-skinned boy whose charm was such that he is, to date, revered and loved by a million devotees. He, Lord Krishna, was born to Devaki and Vasudev but due to the heinous activities of his maternal uncle, Kamsa, he grew up in the care of Nanda and Yashoda in the beautiful village of Gokul.

Throughout his journey on earth, he portrayed superhuman qualities along with being kind, smart and a great strategist. He is thus referred to as an enigma by some and a God and incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself by many.

As a kid, he defeated and slayed quite a few demons and performed activities that were otherwise very unusual for a boy his age. He however was also very mischievous and kept causing trouble to local folk. Nevertheless, he always stood by their side and stepped in to protect them whenever in need. The story goes that once, he filled his mouth with mud. When his mother came by and asked him to open his mouth, he obliged, and the whole universe appeared to her. It is testimony to Yashoda’s maternal instinct that she could look at this God, and still treat him as her beloved child.

On another fine day in Vrindavan, he lifted the mighty Govardhan parvat atop his little finger to provide shelter when a severe storm hit the villages surrounding the mountain and drenched them as a result of a curse by Lord Indra.

One oft-spoken incident in his life is the epic Raas Leela. Once, Lord Krishna began playing his flute on the banks of a river when the villagers and gopikas to be precise got enchanted by the melody and walked towards him leaving behind their daily chores. The gopikas here are not mere girls but jeevas, i.e., pure souls irrespective of gender and the occurrence in itself a symbolic representation of the ultimate unification of god and man.

After defeating his uncle Kamsa, he went on to rule Dwaraka in present-day Gujarat, and was crowned the king of Yadavs. It is said that he prayed to Samudra Devi to provide him with some land and later ordered Vishwakarma to build a city which he completed in a short span of just 2 days. Dwaraka is now submerged. However, underwater archaeological excavations suggest the existence of the Lord and a mythical city in a bygone era.

He is also the central character in the Mahabharata, and in many ways spun the story itself as its chief architect. As he reveals to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, he is the doer, the event and the consequence. That the Kurukshetra war would take place was inevitable- it was only a question of who would play which role. At one point, he travels to the Kuru kingdom as an envoy and Duryodhana in his folly tries to capture him. At this point, he reveals his celestial form. That destiny is written in stone is a recurring theme in the epic, because even the appearance of God himself does not deter mankind from fighting an ill-fated battle.

In his lifetime, he played the role of a guru, a friend, a son, a brother, preacher, king, guide and more. His preachings which are listed in the Bhagavad Gita are to this date followed by many and looked up on as guiding parameters on how to overcome and deal with a situation.

It is for these reasons that Lord Krishna is considered by some as a physical representation of the conscience that dwells in the soul of every living creature that reminds them of right and wrong.

This coming Janmashtami, bring in idols and paintings of Lord Krishna and live by his teachings to lead yourself to a better and fulfilled life.

Find them in our ‘Glimpse of Krishna’ collection.

Pride of Puri- Jagannath Temple:

The original temple of Puri is said to have its origins dating back to almost 1078 to 1148 CE. However, the one we see today is a reconstructed version of the original temple that was built in the year 1174 CE by king Ananga Bhima Deva.

This temple has a mythical past to it. It is said that when Pandavas began their journey to Yama Lok, the Sapta Rishis advised them to visit the Chaar Dham to attain moksha. One destination of this Chaar Dham is the Puri Jagannath Temple.

The three idols placed in this temple are of Lord Krishna or Lord Jagannath along with his brother Balarama and sister Subhadra. How these unique wooden idols came into being is yet another alluring story of this temple.

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu manifested near the seashore at the end of the Treta Yuga in the form of a blue colored jewel called Indranilamani. The shine of this jewel was so bright that it could grant instant moksha to anyone who looked at it. In order to prevent that from happening, Lord Yama hid that jewel by burying it. Later in Dwapara Yuga, a Malwa king named Indradyumna wanted to find that jewel and performed severe penance for it. Lord Vishnu in the form of a divine voice instructed King Indradyumna to make an idol out of a tree log that he can find floating on Puri beach. As instructed Lord Indradyumna set out on his task where Lord Vishnu himself took the form of an artisan to sculpt the idols. He, however, demanded that he remain undisturbed until he is done. After a couple of weeks, the king and queen took the artisan to be dead as there was no sound from him and entered the workplace thereby invading his privacy and solace. Lord Vishnu hence left the idols unfinished. It is because of this that Puri Jagannath’s idol is said to have no hands.

Of all the festivals celebrated in this temple, two remain to be of utmost importance- The Rath Yatra and The Nabakalebara.

Rath Yatra:

Once every year, in the rainy month of Asadha (around June or July), the three idols of Puri Jagannath temple are brought out onto the main streets of Puri where they are carried on wheeled chariots to Shri Gundicha Temple where they stay for nine days and then return back to Shri Mandri, halting at Mausi Maa Temple on their way back.

This procession is called Rath Yatra and is a major celebration in Odisha. People decorate roads and the chariots are well decorated by skilled artisans for this purpose.

Nabakalebara:

A once in a blue moon festival, Nabakalebara usually occurs in a time gap of 8, 12 or even 18 years. During this time, the existing idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balarama, and Devi Subhadra are buried and new idols are installed. These idols are made using a special variety of wood and this festival calls in huge population from across the globe.

Arts and crafts of Lord Jagannath from our collection:

At Artisanscrest, we house a very exquisite range of art and craft related to Lord Jagannath and the temple of Puri.

Take a look below.

The Monsoon Tales- Significance of Rains in India

It feels like just yesterday that the year 2019 started and here we are in mid-June already, welcoming the Monsoon season!

Rains have always been adored and loved across the globe. The first drop of rain brings with it a pleasant change from the scorching heat of summer. It renews the minerals in our soil and makes the crops bloom in joy.

India being an agrarian country, rains hold great importance here and are celebrated with much joy. It is but natural that they also have mythological references.

Lord Indra is known as the god of rains, lightning and thunder. Rains here are believed to be the blessings of Gods upon Earth. Various vedas say that it is through the drops of rain that new life enters the planet and karmas are washed off. It is also said that Gods express their displeasure through heavy rains and scanty rains that cause natural calamities and destroy life.

So ingrained is a shower into our culture that some musical notes are also said to cause the sky to burst forth in joy and shower us with life-giving drops.

With such significance, the season of monsoon is celebrated across the country in the form of bright and vibrant festivals, such as

1. Onam:

A very popular festival celebrated in “God’s own country” Kerala, Onam marks the joy of farmers as they witness rainfall to nurture their crops that they have sown with much labour.

People are seen dressed in traditional attire and rituals are performed in temples. Boat races are the most prominent events during this time.

2. Minjar:

The people of Himachal Pradesh pay their respect and show devotion to the Lord for rains and good harvest by celebrating a seven-day long festival called Minjar.

3. Narali Purnima:

Narali Purnima, also know as the Coconut Day festival is celebrated towards the end of monsoon with great zeal in the western state of Maharashtra mostly by the fishing community. The significance of this festival is to ward off any obstacles that may occur in the sea while fishing or sailing.

4. Aadi Perukku:

Celebrated in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the purpose of this festival is purely to thank and honour nature and rivers for their contribution to life sustenance. It is observed mostly by women where they take a dip in holy water bodies and make their offerings to the river like flowers, garments, etc.

5. Hareli:

Yet another monsoon festival, Hareli is celebrated in Chhattisgarh by tribal communities. They seek good harvest and perform rituals and worship livestock, farm equipment, etc.

Monsoon in India is thus welcomed with vibrant colours, delicious food and much love. As we write this blog, we cannot wait for the first showers to hit the scorched earth and bless us with abundant food, prosperity and many stories to tell about the greatness of the cosmos we inhabit.

How to Protect Your Art Collection- A Complete Guide

Imagine this… You go shopping for art pieces and you find some gorgeous masterpieces. You purchase them and display them in an aesthetic fashion. But as time passes, they start collecting dust and the colour starts to wear off.

Nothing is more disappointing than that, isn’t it?

In this edition of our blog, we will be covering tips and tricks to protect and preserve your art collection, so it stays bright as new and saves you from the above mentioned scenario.

Read on.

Displaying:

1. Prevention is better than cure! Hence, always get your paintings and other wall art neatly framed. It not just keeps them free from dust but also spices up the artwork and makes it look presentable.
2. For non-wall art such as sculptures, vases, etc., avoid placing them directly on the floor as doing this might expose them to water. Also, lifting your pieces off the floor allows air to flow through them.
3. When displaying your art, avoid placing them under direct sunlight and make sure the room is cool.

Cleaning:

1. Remove your art works from display every now and then and check them for any damages.
2. Never use water to clean any piece of art.
3. Dust them gently using a feather duster on a regular basis.
4. If you are using wooden frames, check them for termites at regular intervals as they might cause great damage to the artwork along with the frame.

Storing:

1. Your art pieces must be got off display once every few months and stored inside. This gives them a break from being exposed to direct environment for a long time.
2. When storing them, avoid polyethene and use cotton sheets instead.
3. Wrap them carefully and store them in a cool and dry place.
4. Keep checking them to make sure they are not exposed to termites and worms when they are stored.

Seeking professional help:

Sometimes it so happens that despite taking all the necessary precautions, artworks still start wearing off. When this happens, you might need to call a professional to look in.

Some such cases include-

1. When the paint starts chipping or wearing off.
2. When the canvas or paper starts turning a slightly yellowish tone. This is an indication of presence of fungi and needs to be got rid of immediately.
3. If tiny bumps start appearing on your canvas. It means that the canvas needs to be re-stretched.
4. When the colour starts getting duller or the tone of the colour changes. Varnishes tend to do that to your precious art collection.
5. If your artwork is exposed to water. Especially canvas or paper art.
6. Sometimes professionals might also be able to fix broken art pieces.

We hope this blog was useful.

Stay tuned to our blog updates for more information on various art related topics.

Art of Home Décor- Arranging your art:

Every art connoisseur faces a unique challenge- how to display the art. Having a fair idea of where to place/hang what art piece to improve its visual appeal can be tricky business.

Often times it so happens that an amazing piece of art is displayed in the wrong place, under the wrong lighting or on a wrong background and that brings down not just appeal of the artwork but also of the entire interior.

But fret not! We have got you covered with some tips and placement suggestions that will give you an understanding of interior decoration concerning art.

Where to place what

Interior designing follows certain unspoken norms when it comes to placing art such as looking for an apt background, ensuring visibility etc.

Read below for some such suggestions:

1. Above your Sofa set-

One can never go wrong with hanging an exquisite painting over their sofa set. The reason behind this is that an art work, especially a painting should always be at eye level and the one placed above a sofa does just that and hence grabs attention.

2. On a TV table or side stand:

This place is a perfect spot to showcase your favourite sculptures or vases as placing one here adds a pinch of spice to an otherwise boring table.

3. Above your bed:

Another very appealing place to hang your masterpiece paintings is right above your bed.

Paintings with calming scenery or minimal colour are suggested for this purpose.

4. Showcase stands and bookshelves:

While showcase stands are kind of obvious, bookshelves are very under-rated when it comes to placing art pieces or other decorative items.

Again, sculptures go best here while flower vases, pen stands, paper weights, etc. also do a good job.

5. On your study table:

Why not showcase your art collection on your study table as well? Try to go minimalist here and place an artistic pen stand or an antique paper weight and that will suffice.

6. Gardens:

If you own some life size sculptures, what better place to display them than in your beautiful, lavish gardens? Gardens tables can also be a great place to display art.

Choose something that is carved out of natural elements like stone or wood.

7. Office room:

Gone are the days when an office setup is supposed to look very basic and plain.

A beautiful art piece or two usually cheer up the environment. Take a look below.

What to do and what not to?

1. Choose a well-lit area to display your art. Insufficient lighting can bring down the appeal of it.
2. Never hang your paintings too high or too low. Maintain an approximate eye level.
3. Always remember- Less is more. Do not over crowd any area with a lot of art pieces.
4. Try playing with colour contrasts. For example, a bright wall always compliments a monochromatic painting while a nude coloured interior could be spiced up with a pop of colour using colourful art works.
5. Clean your art collection often to avoid dust accumulation on them.

We hope this article helped you. What are you waiting for? It is your turn to decorate your interiors.

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Legacy of Eastern India- Pattachitra Paintings

Originating from the Indian western states of Odisha and West Bengal, Pattachitra is an art form that essentially makes use of “Patta” or a piece of cloth for canvas. It is one of the iconic art forms of India and holds a special place in the arts and crafts industry.

The Origins-

This age-old tradition is believed to have originated in the 5^th century with themes primarily depicting Lord Jagannath and scenes from his life.

Some of the finest traces of the Pattachitra painting from the past can be found in Raghurajpur, a village in the district of Puri that is famous for its heritage crafts.

Artists working on this medium were called Chitrakaras and they often were commissioned to make art for palaces and kings. They used to work with natural pigments and followed set guidelines that gave Pattachitra paintings their unmistakeable identity.

The Present Times

Although artisans still make use of a piece of cloth and natural pigments to make Pattachitra paintings, the art form has evolved to meet modern sensibilities and resource availability.

For instance, art back then was made for religious and worship purposes while now it is majorly made to be displayed in homes, offices, restaurants and such for interior appeal. Artisans now use brushes made of different animals’ hair for different purposes. For example, brushes made of buffalo hair are used for thicker lines while those made of squirrel hair are used for finer detailing. The themes have also been diversified from depicting mythological stories to more wider subjects such as geometrical shapes, flora, fauna and more. 

However, the guidelines we mentioned earlier are still majorly followed such as using bright hues, outlining details with black and making thick, decorative borders.

With such legacy, the traditional technique of making a Pattachitra painting is worth knowing.

The Process-

It can broadly be divided into a threefold process which involves:

1. Preparing the Canvas:

A cotton cloth that is free of starch is often used for these paintings. It is first dipped in a solution of crushed Imli seeds and water for about 3-4 days after which it is sun dried.

Both sides of the cloth are then coated with a paste consisting of Imli, gum, and chalk powder and the cloth is again left to dry.

After that, the cloth is smoothened by rubbing a khaddar stone and a Chikana stone is used for giving the cloth a shiny effect.

2. Preparing the Colours:

As discussed, Pattachitra painters make use of natural pigments which are obtained from vegetables, minerals, leaves, etc. For example, black is obtained by placing a burning lamp in a tin can and collecting the soot that forms while red is obtained from the stone hingual. Similarly, yellow comes from Haritali stone, white from Conch shells and green from boiling leaves.

All these pigments are mixed with water and gum to give them a uniform consistency.

More hues are created by mixing these primary colours together and coconut shells are often used for holding colours.

3. Painting:

A Pattachitra painting is often started with sketching borders. A base sketch is then made based on the subject chosen. Once the sketch is ready, desired colours are filled in after which the entire figure and each detail is given an outline using black colour.

A coat of varnish maybe applied to prevent the painting from wearing off.

Although Pattachitra paintings were side tracked for few years, they are now being patronized and various centres are being set up across the state to teach and promote this art form. More and more women are being encouraged to make art to build themselves an identity and livelihood.

Art Across The Length And Breadth of India:

From time immemorial, spanning across the lands of India is its extremely beautiful and exquisite art and architecture.

Be it the paintings found in the caves of Bimbetka or the carvings excavated from places surrounding the Indus Valley Civilization, be it the art from Mauryan dynasty or the architecture from the period of Mughals, each art form speaks its own style of design and carries strong characteristics that narrate the story of its origin.

Indian art forms vary from paintings, sculptures, textiles, and pottery to elaborate architecture and interiors. Being a land of many cultures and religions, the art of India differs not just in style but also based on the various states and regions that the country has.

Take a look at some of the finest examples of art across India.

From Kerala-

Situated on the Malabar Coast of India, Kerala offers a range of exquisite art pieces owing to its skilled craftsmen. Kerala is famous for its metal lamps and vessels but most importantly for its mural paintings.

Kerala Murals are painted in bright hues and often make use of natural pigments. They portray scenes from Indian mythology and have characteristic rounded patterns that make them distinct from other paintings. Read more about these paintings here.

From Odisha-

Of all the things that the eastern land of Odisha is famous for, its Pattachitra paintings hold a very prominent place. They are essentially paintings done on a piece of cloth. Generations of artisans found their bread and butter in this art form and hence, its legacy continues to spread across the globe to date.

Pipli, another region in Odisha houses artisans who are famous for their use of vibrant colors and intricate embroidery on pieces of cloth.

Did you know that we, team Artisanscrest have been awarded the Shilpi Sahajogi Sanman by a non-profit organization in Odisha for our service in promoting Indian art? Read about it here.

From West Bengal-

This state is renowned for its rich culture and immense contribution to art and heritage. We at Artisanscrest host some absolutely gorgeous pieces of art from West Bengal. 

Called the Dhokra brass works, they are named after the Dhokra Damar tribes of this state. They make use of an age-old technique called the ‘lost-wax’ method to craft sculptures that have very strong motifs and forceful forms.

Find more of these here.

From Karnataka-

Situated 60kms off Bangalore, this rural village of Karnataka called Channapatna has marked its prominence on the map through its artisans’ undoubted expertise in carving and crafting wood. This art form is said to have originated during the rule of Tipu Sultan about two centuries ago.

We take pride in the fact that the Hampi Chariot, a World Heritage Site in Karnataka has been recreated by us in all its grandeur, about which you can find more here.

What makes India and its art beautiful is how all these differences come together to be called the heritage of India and we, at Artisanscrest celebrate this beauty with all our heart and soul. You will find more such marvelous pieces of art on our website https://www.artisanscrest.in. Do make a visit. 

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