Monday, December 22, 2008

Shopping In Rajasthan

Rajasthan is among the richest state in India as far as the field of art and craft is concerned। The richness of Rajasthan is so extraordinary that it touches every aspect of life in the desert and semi desert of Rajasthan and finds new meaning in the expressions of its visitors।

A magical sojourn reverberating with age old culture and traditions, the state enfolds in its lap a diverse kaleidoscope of breathtakingly beautiful and fascinating art-de-facts. The range is unparalleled even while it is sophisticated in its simplicity.

It has something for almost every kind of traveler, revealing a vast range of arts and crafts, which is a treat for the visuals and are ready to be picked. The Bazaars spill with products and there is a magnificent glow of colours all over.

Intricate work carved on handicrafts or the wonders of gems and stones, it has it all and even more like the colours dancing on the textiles and fabrics with silver or gold threads settings and complimented with the variety of Silk-threads, Beads, Gota, Zari, Zardosi, Banarasi, etc. designed by the age old families of skilled artisans.

The amazing use of clay in the form of sculpture and decorative arts, the paintings from different schools like Miniature, Mughal and the different Rajasthani shailis (school of art) and more are piled up, revealing the medieval splashes and recording historic and dramatic events. Almost capturing the senses!
The age old art of dyes and colours hold the centre of attraction.

Terracotta
Rajasthan's Terracotta tradition, dating back to the indua Valley Civilization, continues today in all parts of Rajasthan।
Terracotta has an old tradition in Rajasthan। Even today in many of the villages women still cook in terracotta pots over wood fires. Terracotta and clay pots are normally used for the storage of water as the slow evaporation through the porous clay helps in eliminating the surrounding heat and thus keeps the water cool even in the hottest temperature of Rajasthan. However once the pores are filled with the deposits the effect of cooling is less effective and a new earthen pot is needed in next summer. This is one of the example how a village economy keeps working. Terracotta earthen pots are available in different sizes and some times with white colorful designs on it to make it more beautiful. In almost all the villages the traditions of making and using clay pottery can be seen. However artists of Udaipur have developed this culture into a fine art. In Udaipur Potters are using the clay not only to create just pots but also objects of art such as warriors fighting on horses, elephants with the soldiers being just some of the examples.

Textiles
Rajasthani textiles come in a fascinating range ot dyed and block-printed fabric which are further। embellished by embroidery.
Rajasthani textiles come in a fascinating range ot dyed and block-printed fabric which are further. embellished by embroidery. Stunning, unusual combinations of scarlet and shocking pink, purple and orange, turquoise and parrot green, saffron and crimson, shot with gold and silver steal the limelight. Rajasthan is the heartland of hand-block printing. Sanganer in Jaipur is virtually flooded with block makers and printers. The art of Khan or overprinting in gold is also practised here. Today, traditional vegetable and mineral'dyes are gradually being replaced by chemical ones.

The town of Bagru excels in delightful circular designs in dark glowing vegetable colours printed on bed spreads, table linen and clothes. Textiles printed here have won the hearts of millions at home and abroad.

The red, black and olive green, mosaic-like patterns of the Jajams of Chlttaurgarh are used for women's skirts & wraps and floor coverings।
Paintings
An irressisable buy bare the paintings of Rajsthan । The paintings done in inimitable styles and colour rendering are so distinctive that they catch the eye and touch the soul.

An irressisable buy bare the paintings of Rajsthan . The paintings done in inimitable styles and colour rendering are so distinctive that they catch the eye and touch the soul.

'Rajsathan has many schools ol painting having Their own districts styles, well known among them being Marwar, Mewar, Hadoti Kishangarh, Dhundhur and Alwar.

The Miniature Paintings of Rajsthan which had flourishedunder princely patronage are still reproduced and descendants of the original craftsmen continue to produce miniture masterpieces, retaining their classic elegance । They are often made on hand made paper mathological the ms from Ramayana, Krishna Lila, Ragamala, and Geetgovinda are commonly used . In the paintaings , Vivdly rendred are hills valleys, gardens, palaces, court scenes and relifious processions.

Jewellery
The artistic delicacy and elaborateness in the manufacturing of Rajasthani jewellery made of purest and finest materials is world-renowned। Rajasthan became famous for its jewellery industry from very early times, being an important source of precious and semi precious stones.

Each area has its own unique style that follows the age-old traditions. Be it the regal and classic forms of jewellery adorned by the Royals, Aristocrats and Nobles done in real Gold, Platinum with precious stones embedded to lend glamour or the rural who prefer the reasonable, chunky Silver or the cheap metal with colored glass cuts to give it an effect.

Some of the most charming and attractive hand crafted jewellery comes from Rajasthan. Rajasthan is famous for its jewellery industry and it is one of the world's largest centres for hand-cutting of gems. It is India's important source for precious and semi precious stones like; Ruby, Emerald, Garnets, Agate, Amethyst, Topaz, Lapis lazuli, Carnelian, etc.

Rajasthan is also known for the art of silver smithy, beginning from anklets to earrings to head gears। A lot of effort goes into its making since most of the rural communities wear silver ornaments. Besides silver, it is known for its Lac bangles, Kundan and Minakari, enameled gold jewellery, uncut diamonds and emerald-cutting. Another most exclusive art is 'thewa' from Chittaur popular for its gold work on glass. Some of the traditional adornments are Rakhdi (head ornament), Tussi (necklace), Baju Bandh (armlet), Adah (special necklace worn by Rajputs), Gokhrus (bracelets), Pajebs (anklets), etc.

Rajasthan Carpets
Rajasthan carpets are suprb in workmanship and command sizeable export market। Exquisite carpets in traditional and contemporary designs, woollen druggets or 'Namdas' and hand-woven cotton duries also known as 'Panja' durries are thepopular floor coverings.

Rajasthan is traditionally well-known for fine-quality hand-knotted woollen carpets. Jaipur, Ajmer, and Bikaner are main centres for this craft. It is also found in smaller towns like Tonk, Chaksu, Manaharpura, and Barmer. Some of the motifs used are little rosettes of Indo-Heratic origin; the colours found are blue, red, and purplish-tints in combination. The other combination is light green and deep blue. The border motifs include bold flowers and long serrated leaves.

Floor Coverings
Rajasthan's Floor Covering industry has been revitalised to suit the needs of the modiern buyer and Rajasthani Carpets are making headway in markets not only in India but abroad।
Rajasthan's Floor Covering industry has been revitalised to suit the needs of the modiern buyer and Rajasthani Carpets are making headway in markets not only in India but abroad.

Skilled artisans had been sumn॥ Herat (Afghanistan) by Raja Man Singh I of Amer to train the local workers and at present Jaipur, Bikaner and Amer are prominent centres of carpet weaving। The carpet designs are mostly based on Persian and Caucasian styles. Peacocks and flowers are the popular motifs as well as landscapes and geometric designs.

Toys And Dolls
Toy makers of Jaipur make elephants and horses of suffed cloth, decorated with tinsel & embroidered fabric. Paper - mache birds and animals are available in different sizes and colours and make an interesting buy.

Dolls are the representative of a nation and are the confluence of its different ages, time and culture. The rich cultural heritage through the ages can be vividly depicted through these dolls. Religion, nature and human interaction have been the three basic inspiring forces for artists down the ages, although the medium of expression has diffused from stone and canvas to cloth and celluloid.

From ancient times, dolls of various types fascinated men, women and children all over the world. Children in particular have found great fun and delight in dolls, which also help them to develop their intellect and imagination.

The history of India from ancient times to modern is recounted in a series of dolls. The simple folk of India find a place in dolls that project rural life. The vividly colorful Indian dances - be it Kathakali, with its complex grammar, or Bhangra, with its vigour and exuberance are also well depicted through dolls. Dolls act as cultural ambassadors reflecting 5,000 years of Indian civilization.

The Indian people have a very special affection for dolls। They are part of a tradition Indians have grown up with. At one time dolls were given away as wedding presents to the child bride. Today, dolls not only provide a diversion but also a colorful canvas for depicting Indian life in its plethora of cultural beauties.

Kundan Meenakari
One of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India is the 24-carat pure gold Kundan jewellery।
Kundan Meenakari is one of the art which is done proudly in Jaipur. This art originated from the Rajputi times and since that Rajasthani people have a kind of monopoly on it. Enameling is an art of using a substance covering the surface of metal, pots or other objects to decorate and beautify them. Enamel is applied when hot and cools to give a hard glossy surface. The Rajputs rulers and royal families of Rajasthan patronized the enameled form of Jewellery which is known today as kundan. Today Jaipur and to some extend Bikaner are the major centres for Kundan. In this art precious stones and very often diamonds, are set into gold artistically creating designs. Enamel work is admired so highly that not only the Jewellery but also the boxes used for the Jewellery and other precious objects, swords, bedrooms tables are decorated with this wonderful work.

Visits to goldsmith’s studios can be organized with the help of Rajasthan Visit who happen to have their head office in the capital (Jaipur) of Rajasthan. We are sure you will find amazing to see these craftsmen working in amazingly low lighted surroundings and using only few basic tools, mostly unsophisticated for the western standard but creating some of the finest valuable items of the wonderful Jewellery world of Rajasthan.

Blue Pottery
Jaipur is the home of glazed Blue - Pottery which has its origins in Persia। Its distinctive feature is that no clay is used.

Jaipur is the home of glazed Blue - Pottery which has its origins in Persia. Its distinctive feature is that no clay is used.

It is used out of a mixture of Fuller's earth. Quartz and Sodium Sulphite.

The special turquoise blue colour comes with the addition of Copper Sulphate and the deep blue from Cobait Oxide.

The blue - pottery articles like flower vases, pots and jars, surahis, lampstands and even doorknobs, are decorated with traditional and arabesque motifs of animals, birds & flowers and are a shopper's delight.

Stone Craft
Religious themes are carved in stone all over Rajasthan. The images are life- like and are skillfully sculptured in different varieties of stone.

Religious themes are carved in stone all over Rajasthan. The images are life- like and are skillfully sculptured in different varieties of stone.

Statues of gods & goddesses, animals and human figures are carved out of while marble in Jaipur.

The soft, Pink sandstone, Tamara stone and the soft Chlorite of Dungrapur are the other varities of stones that are used for making icons, utility items, figures etc।
Leatherware
The leather of work of Rajasthan is interestingly a joint effort of the local men and women। While the men do the tanning, cutting and stitching, the women do the embroidery and ornamentation.

The case of Coach Leatherware Company, Inc। versus ANNTAYLOR, Inc. and three other plaintiffs was settled in the District Court of New York. Filed in November of 1990 and then appealed at a later time, the case was one of the first publicized cases regarding copyright and piracy. Though the case was considered to be an argument of knockoffs and "confusion in the marketplace," the case is now more important than at its time of filing. The court document claims that Coach "commenced this action for trademark infringement and statutory and common law unfair competition" which now would be grounds for a suit on copyright infringment as the items that were claimed to have been infringed upon are not currently covered by trademark protection. The case cites many other cases of different fashion infringement suits as well as the copyright acts and the Lanham act.

Woodcraft
The choices is so varied that it is difficult to choose, whether it's the desert carvan with tiny camels, or Lord Krishna playing the flute in a divine mood, or nymphs in aesthetic dance poses।
The metalware comprises of artistic brassware, enamelled, engraved and filigreed cut work on silver. Apart from jewellery, the silversmiths make beautiful boxes, trays small statues of Krishna, Ganesh, and ornamenta! birds, horses and elephants, enamelled as well as plain. Traditional silver articles like handas, spice bottles and baskets command sizeable export markets. Highly ornamented hilts and scabbards of swords and daggers are also crafted.

Brass enamelling is an art-form in itself with three different styles - chikan. maron and bictii. each with its own repertoire of traditional motifs and designs.

Jaipur also has a tradition of brass sculptures, well finished and polished to a shine. Vivid enamel is also used to highlight the engraving on beaten brassware.

Koftagari or damascene work is mostly practiced in Alwar and Jaipur. In this, one metal is encrusted into another in the form of inlaid wiring. Popular articles include swords, daggers, paper knives and shields.

Furniture
The furniture of Rajasthan displays grandeur and elegrance। The carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles and low tables & stooles are simply a steal. Each object is desirable whether inlaid figures or embellished with hunting scenes.

Decorate your home like a palace or haveli.

The furniture of Rajasthan displays grandeur and elegrance. The carved and decorated chests, chairs, cradles and low tables & stooles are simply a steal. Each object is desirable whether inlaid figures or embellished with hunting scenes.

While their carved wooden doors & chairs. Tilonia furniture stands out for its fine embroidery work done on leather. Patra furniture, which is plated with white metal, has carved out its own market niche.

Imparting exquisite beauty to chairs, tables-tops and lamps in the art of taarkashi (wire inlay) and lacquer work.

Puppets
The art of making the puppets has a long tradition in Rajasthan। But these are not only the puppets who has made them famous but, also the people who decorate and dress and finally make them dance before the public.

The puppets in Rajasthan are one of the popular sources of entertainment in the state. The art of puppetry is practiced by a community of agricultural laborers of Rajasthan. Known as the Bhats, these people have been associated with Rajasthani string puppetry to carry forward their traditional occupation. Though they belong, originally, to the Nagaur area in the Marwar region, they travel all through the countryside to exhibit their skills. Also known by the name of the "kathputliwalas", they usually perform the puppet shows during the late evenings.

In the puppet shows of Rajasthan there are a number of wooden dummy dolls that are dressed up in bright and color attires। These puppets are attached with strings that the puppeteer uses to move them around. A miniature stage is set up with the help of a cot that is laid by length. The puppeteer tacks his puppets over a rope joined to the upper legs of the cots. The cots are covered with sheets in order to conceal the puppeteer from the view of the public. He moves the jointed limbs of the puppets with the help of strings attached to each of them.

Jewellery And Gemstones
At Jewellery Haven, we carry a wide range of exquisite handcrafted gemstone jewellery catered for people like you। The jewellery that you see are all lovingly created by our designers and the pieces are all one-of-a-kind.

Rajasthan is one of the largest centres in the world for manufacturing of gems stones and jewellery. No where perhaps in the world, such a large quantity and varieties of gem stones are cut and polished as in Rajasthan. It is not unusual to find shops and traders who have their shops full of real gem stones that it seems hard to believe to be real. There is every kind of stone which ranges from economical semi precious stones till precious stones and further as far as diamonds. To name, some of the stones widely available in the markets of Rajasthan are: Amethyst, Iolite, Aquamarine, Labradorite, Citrine, Black Onyx, Lapis, Earrings, Garnet, Citrine, Moonstone, Carneline, Peridot, Pendants Crystal, Rose Quartz, Garnet, Green Venturine, Tourmaline, Green Onyx. Even those who would not like to spend much would have the temptation to take some stones home as most

of the offers are very so lucrative and the choice and colours available are incredible. In no other part of the world can you have the pleasure with the shopping the colour stones and Jewellery so economically as in Rajasthan.

Durries
A Durrie is a cool, light rug। Rajasthani durries are smooth and closely woven. Pastel shades and a sparse use of geometrical motifs are popular. Durrie weaving is also a craft special to Rajasthan.

The Durrie is kind of thin and simple woven carpets which were earlier used as a supporting material under big and thick carpets in the royal houses। Common people used them under their beds to keep them warm during the winter. For big gathering as in the villages and small town, whole community is invited at occasion of birth, death or any family festival and it would not be possible to have such big carpets as this would be very expensive for normal people, so they used Durries (or darris). There has been revival of this art as more people can afford it and this has resulted in a large colorful varieties.In many villages of Rajasthan you may find a large number of Houses where the durrie are woven on the loom in vibrant designs and motifs. A Durrie can be as simple as in a single colour only with a contrasting border. On the other hand due to demand there are some durries with geometric motifs and floral patterns in a mix of contrasting colours.

Stone Carving
Stone carving is a major handicraft of Orissa। As is evident from the innumerable archaeological monuments, rock-cut sculptures, caves and temples built for centuries and embellished with most beautiful and intricately carved statue and other adornments.

The stone-carving tradition in India is one of the richest in the world. Guilds of masons and stone carvers have existed here since the 7th century B.C. The skills were handed down as family lore from father to son, a practise prevalent in some parts of the country even today. The classical tradition of stone carving was closely linked with architecture. All major temples of India-be it Puri, Konark, Khajuraho, Kailash Temple, or the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram-illustrate the rich tradition of Indian stone carvings.

The geologically old land of Rajasthan, rich in different kinds of hard rocks like granites, marbles, quartzite, slates, and other metamorphic rocks, has been a stone-carver's paradise. Right from the medieval times, the ready availability of high-quality stone (the use of brick was almost unknown) made it easy for the Rajasthani builder to construct strong and beautiful forts, palaces, and temples. The sculptures found in the ancient and medieval temples of Bharatpur, Baroli, Ramgarh, Nagda, Ajmer, Chittor, Mandore, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Udaipur speak highly of the artistic skills of the Rajasthani stonecutters. Apart from temple carvings, the stone carvers of Rajasthan are noted for their jali (latticework) carvings. Most ancient palatial buildings of Rajasthan sport jali work on their doors and windows. The jali screens, sculpted from both sandstone and marble, were frequently used in the windows of the zenanas (women's quarters) enabling the women in purdah to view the events of the courts without being seen. The screens also offered protection from the elements while allowing the passage of fresh air through the intricate geometric patterns.

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