Celebrate World Heritage Day with Some Known Handicrafts of India

India has always been the land of culture and tradition. There would not be a single household across the nation, that will not represent Indian culture, be it of any religion. India- a country known for the rich cultural heritage we have and how beautifully we have managed to keep it alive.Our traditional way of decorating things and making them more exquisite for anyone. As World Heritage Day is about to knock our doors, how about, we take a look at the cultural richness of our country?

There are a lot of handicrafts of India that are still in practice but have lost their charm, because of the modern ways of dressing and decorating. One of the amazing facts about all the listed handicrafts is that they are still alive in the rural areas of the country. Wherein urban cities are still focusing on being more modern and posh; it is the soil of rural areas that have helped keep up the handicrafts alive.

1. Pashmina Shawls

Pashmina is very fine wool found in the Kashmir region of the country. These shawls are made using the best quality wool- Cashmere wool. The shawls are manufactured in the valley of Kashmir and are transported to northern India. The shawls takes quite a few months to get prepared. The process of making the shawl includes combing and spinning, to weaving and finishing, is entirely carried out by hand by dedicated craftsmen and women.

2. Pottery

Pottery is considered as one of the sensual handicraft among all the regular ones. In India, the art of pottery came with the Harappan Civilization. Many states in Northern India are familiar with this art and are creating beautiful designs, shapes, by just using clay. Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bikaner, Alwar, Jaipur, all these regions are performing well in making pottery in designs that are brilliant and can make anyone awestruck.

3. Jute

Handicrafts made of jute are quite popular worldwide, not just because they make up for some great tote bags or grocery bags but also because they are the best alternative to polythenes and paper bags. In India, some of the regions that are known for producing some beautiful jute bags, baskets, pouches, etc. are West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar.

4. Woodwork

Wooden handicrafts are something that looks quite exquisite and is found in almost every Indian household. Reason? Simply because most of the furniture we use is made up of wood. Designed very intricately the wood artefacts are best to decorate your house, here and there. Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Madurai, Kerala are some of the regions that make some very spectacular wooden furniture and pieces.

5. Shell

Jewellery made of the shell has always interested everyone. But what is more interesting is the fact that shells are not just used in jewellery, but artisans from Gulf of Munnar (Goa), Odisha, etc. are making some very unique shell artefacts. These include forks, mirror frames, table mats, decorative bowls, curtains, chandeliers, etc. All the places located near the seashores have infinite access to shells, and that is why the jewellery made from it is easily available in such areas.

6. Leather

Leather has an age-old connection with India. And back when leather came into existence, it was used to make clothes, shoes, hats, saddles, shields, etc. Now, with the limited use of this fabric, the product range of leather has decreased. Madhya Pradesh and Kanpur, are the two top places, known for manufacturing some of the best leather products.

7. Bamboo

Another famous handicraft in India, is made using bamboo. West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam are the places that generate the most bamboo made artefacts. From bamboo baskets to dolls, to toys, to furniture, to mats, wall-hangings, jewellery boxes, etc. the range is endless. The modern invention made using bamboo also includes table lamps and planters.

8. Brass

Brass is a heavy metal and is well known in India, both for its durability and the products in which it is used. Many of our kitchen utensils have a thick layer of Brass, to protect the food from high flame and the threat of being burnt. Decoratives like tabletops, ornament boxes, wine glasses, Lord figurines, vases, etc. are made using Brass. And the manufacturing of Brass is solely based in Rajasthan.

9. Zardosi

the art of embroidery that includes threads in golden, silver, and some small little embellishments are given the name Zardosi. This embroidery is mainly done on traditional and precisely on marriage clothing range. The richness of this art is in the manner of intricacy that a pattern is drawn using this. Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Delhi, Agra, Kashmir, Mumbai, Ajmer and Chennai are the places wherein this art is still in practised and adorned

These are only a few handicrafts of India, which makes our cultural heritage rich and all shiny. Phulkari from Punjab and Haryana, Silk sarees from West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and many more states with some other handicrafts of India. India is not as much as the urban culture portrays it; more than half of India still resides in the heart of those, who can keep these handicrafts sane and alive. So, this World Heritage Day, celebrate the culture and rich handicraft collection of India and promote those, who do not charge you much for that intricately hand-designed and hand-woven carpet or chunri.