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Ganjifa: 16th Century Traditional Playing Cards of India
The Story of Ganjifa In June 1527 Babar, founder of the Mughal dynasty, sent a unique gift to Shah Hasan, a close friend from Sindh. It was an exquisite set of Mughal Ganjifa round playing cards, each hand-painted on ivory and inlaid with precious stones. Little did he know that he was going to spark…
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Poetry in Stone: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Walking through the ruins of the fifth city of Delhi, Firuzabad, one is drawn in by the unique scents and silver smoke emanating from incense sticks. We have found our way to the stone walls of Firuz Shah Kotla, built on the bank of the river Yamuna in 1354 by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq. What was once the grand…
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The Wood-carvers of Pethapur, Gujarat
Examples of the art of dyeing fabrics exist from the period of the Indus Valley Civilisation, however the origins of block carving are now lost among the pages of history. It is believed that this art was developed and specialised by artisans who were traditionally carpenters and the techniques may have been borrowed from Iran at the…
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The Gilded Storytellers of Lucknow
Deep kohl-set eyes follow the graceful movements of decorated fingers, the intricate beats of the tabla and the progressive tempo of rhythmic footwork. Spectators watch transfixed as elegant swirling movements, lightning quick pirouettes, subtle gestures and sudden poses combine to tell a breathtaking story. Kathak, the North Indian dance form famed for its subtlety and grace, traces…
Storytellers of Wonder 