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Commitment to Kashmir: Nature Bazaar’s Winter Mela
In between our love for handicrafts and the Delhi winters, we decided to explore the flavor of the month- the Kashmir Festival at Winter Mela, Dastkaar Nature Bazaar. Brought to Delhi by the people of Kashmir to celebrate the spirit of the valley, the colorful and vibrant bazaar saw various handicrafts of India on one platform…
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The Royal Atelier: Preserving the Legacy of Miniature Paintings in Kishangarh
Kishangarh is an erstwhile princely state founded by the Jodhpur prince Kishan Singh in 1609. Located at the centre of this now bustling town is the Kishangarh Fort, enveloped by the Phool Mahal Palace and the Gondulav lake beyond. The Fort, built in 1649, is an epitome of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture.…
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Divine Scroll: Pattachitra Art from Odisha
Pattachitra is a traditional art form from Odisha that is based on Hindu mythology. The name is derived from Sanskrit word for cloth “patta” and picture “chitra”, denoting cloth-based scroll painting. The art work is specially inspired by Lord Jagannath and the Vaishnava cult and all the colours used are naturally obtained. Since the beginning of the Pattachitra…
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The Nomad Lyric: Embroidered Textiles from Kashmir’s Gujjar Bakarwal Tribe
The river Lidder that flows through majestic mountains and meadows near Pahalgam in Kashmir had earlier this year taken on a ferocious form, threatening all life that breeds alongside its banks. But before nature played truant, perhaps in just retaliation against man, a community of nomadic tribesmen began to migrate southwards from their camps at…
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Purkal Stree Shakti Samiti: Empowering Lives in a Himalayan Hamlet
In a rural village outside Dehradun known as Purkal, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, a society has dedicated their resources to enhancing the lives of the disadvantaged women of the Community by empowering them. Purkal Stree Shakti Samiti (PSSS) defines itself as ‘an organisation for empowering the women of Purkal’. Many families in the area lack basic…
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Mashru Project by Raw Mango: Celebrating A Lost Legacy
The word ‘mashru’ comes from the Arabic word ‘shari’a’ that means ‘permitted by Islamic law’, an allusion to the prohibition of wearing pure silk fabrics by Muslim men, citing laws in the Quran that restrains luxury in their lifestyle. Mashru is a mixed fabric composed of a smooth silk surface and soft cotton backing, thus making…
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Bandha Re-Interpreted: The Famed Ikat of Odisha
Indian Ikat particularly from Odisha is admired for extraordinary illustration in resist technique. Nuapatna village in the cuttack district of Eastern Odisha is famous for the religious weft ikat textile – Geeta Govinda. It was inscribed with 12th Century poems of Jayadev written in the praise of Lord Krishna. In this village weavers belonging to…
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Celebrating the Six Yard Wonder: The Sari School Workshop with Rta Kapur Chishti
As Delhi took to the streets on the last weekend before Diwali, we made our way to what promised to be an exciting afternoon. While the festival of lights was slowly shining through all activities last week, we were also busy preparing to host a Pre-Diwali treat for some of our special guests… Jaypore was…
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5 Diwali Decor Tips For Dressing Up Your Home
With the festival of lights only a week away, its time to start decorating the home for all the ensuing fun and frolic. To ensure you’re not caught up in decor doom trying to set things up, we’re sharing some simple and easy tips for you to experiment with. 1. Ditch the drab everyday curtains…
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Men and Sarees
Men and their feminine muse are not unheard of. From poetry, to art, to high fashion, the muse has inspired many a creation too. While it’s easier to understand it as a fascination for women, the concept didn’t quite sit right with us when it came to these five men and their affair with women in…
Storytellers of Wonder 