Arts and Crafts in Rajasthan

When the various clans and tribes moved into the region from other parts of India, they brought in their traditional crafts and arts with them. So what you find here is an amazing range of crafts and many styles of painting and sculpture. Perhaps art is not a genetic endowment, but you will be hard-pressed to explain that statement if you were told that excavations of sites in and around Baroti has thrown up terracotta and stone figurines that date back to over 2,000 years.

Art in Rajasthan is not confined to only the elites; it is a part of daily life. The colorful rangoli patterns on the floors, the quickly but intricately etched animal and plant representations on the mud walls that the lady of the house always finds time to create, the fine etchings on the walls of the traditional Havelis, the bright fabrics that are knotted and dyed by hand, the embroidered mojris of men and women - everything is a testimony to the accessibility of art. Same goes for the crafts; the brass pots that are used in the humble kitchen of a Rajasthani cattle driver, the armful of lacquer bangles the women sport, the intricate sandalwood knickknacks (if “knickknacks they can be called!) – everything is proof of the innate sense of aesthetics that the average Rajasthani possesses.

Jewelry 

Whatever part of Rajasthan you visit, make sure to purchase the jewelry, for you may not come across that particular style or design in another part of the state. Both men and women love jewelry, and it is not a wonder that there are more than 10 different styles of jewelry creation in the state. The local names for these styles and types of ornaments are gajra, bala, rakhri, and tirnaniyan. 

Stonework 

Artisans create a range of items from marble and stone. They range from little statuettes to arches that decorate the mansions of the wealthy. Because of the reverence for the various gods and goddesses in the state, statues of the local deity or a favorite god can be found in every home and corner. 

Wood 

Another medium of artistic expression, wood is used by artisans to create figurines of animals, birds, common people, and deities. 

Mandan 

The humble rural home to has its artist – the lady of the house! She will use cow dung to create the outline of a symbol for luck, or just create an etching of animal or flower that has caught her fancy. Her task is not over yet; she will draw geometric patterns and silhouettes of gods on the floor using powdered rice. Life is not easy, there is water to fetch, cattle to tend to, family to take care of – but she will always find time for a bit of art. 

Meenakari 

Enameling in the hands of the Punjabi artisans of Rajasthan is not the kind you find on your coffee mug back home. It is a form of art; and a famous one at that. The original purpose of enameling was rather mundane; it was meant to save gold inlays under it from corrosion. Today, it is high art, a tradition handed down from father to son. 

Jaipur Paintings 

There is nothing uninhibited about the famed miniature paintings from Jaipur; they depict everything from royal game hunting to lovers’ encounters. The origins of this style of painting are as quaint as the paintings themselves. Before the Rajasthani artist had discovered paper, he had discovered art. So he started expressing his creativity using palm leaves. 

Palm leaves are long, but not quite broad, and so the artist had to squeeze his creation to fit it in starting the tradition of miniature painting. Palm leaves have long since been replaced by paper and fabric, and the space constraint does not exist; but perhaps the artists loved this style so much, they still prefer to keep their paintings miniature. And are we not glad of that! 

Rajasthan is at first glance, the land of chaos, colors, and unorganized crowds…dig a little deeper, search the corners for artistic expressions, and you would have discovered another facet to this vibrant region.