Apa Taani weave, often referred to as Tanii ajü or Tanii Aju, is named after the tribe from the Ziro valley in Arunachal Pradesh practising textile weaving within the settlement.
The art of making Moonj Baskets have a history that dates back to almost a century in Prayagraj ( Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh). The craft gets its name from the Moonj and Kaasa grass - wild grasses that abundantly grow near the banks of the river Yamuna and Ganga and in and around the vast areas of Prayagraj. These wild grasses are harvested by hand and then skillfully processed to be woven into exquisite baskets.
Pula chappal "पुला" is a traditional Indian craft from Himachal Pradesh, where artisans hand-weave durable slippers from hemp and wool to create eco-friendly, warm footwear suited for the Himalayan climate. This craft reflects the region’s resourcefulness and cultural heritage, with each pair made using time-honored techniques passed down through generations.
Artisans in Uttar Pradesh turn discarded animal bones into detailed ornaments and practical items using time-honored methods. The bone carving "हड्डी की नक्काशी" traditional Indian craft preserves a rich heritage while adapting to modern styles and needs.
Horn carving is a traditional Indian craft where artisans transform animal horns into intricate decorative and utility objects using skilled manual techniques
The art of Meenakari, or Meena Kari or Mina Kari is an art of painting or embellishing various types of metals with bright colours in dramatic motifs of birds, flowers and leaves.
Kolhapuri chappal (कोल्हापुरी चप्पल) is a traditional handmade leather sandal from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, crafted by local artisan communities using vegetable-tanned leather and distinctive handwork techniques. Known for their durability and unique designs, these chappals remain an iconic symbol of Indian footwear heritage.
Aranmula Kannadi (ആറന്മുളക്കണ്ണാടി), a Malayalam term, refers to the Aranmula metal alloy mirror made by hand in Aranmula, a small settlement in the state of Kerala. Unlike the common silvered glass mirrors, this is a metal alloy mirror or front plane reflection mirror, which does away with any secondary reflections or irregularities typical of back surface mirrors.
Kavasam "கவசம்" is a traditional Indian craft from Tamil Nadu where artisans create embossed sheet metal armour for temple idols and chariots using silver, brass, or copper. Each piece is custom-made and often finished with gold plating for religious ceremonies. Practiced mainly by the Vishwakarma community, kavasam combines technical skill with deep ritual significance.
Uthavache Kaam or metal embossing refers to a technique of applying raised motifs and designs to sheet metals like silver, gold, copper, brass and aluminium. Nashik, a district in Maharashtra is known for Uthavache Kaam in Silver metal.
Coconut-based craft "ತೆಂಗಿನಕಾಯಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (Thenginakayi Kala)" transforms discarded shells into eco-friendly bowls, utensils, and décor, showcasing the ingenuity of Indian coastal artisans. Each piece is hand-crafted for sustainability and style.
Ambadi sisal "अंबाडी सिसल" craft from Maharashtra, uses hand-extracted sisal fibre from the Agave sisalana plant to create strong, water-resistant baskets, mats, and utility products through traditional plaiting and coiling techniques.
Date palm craft is a traditional Indian craft where artisans weave baskets, mats, and utility items from dried date palm leaves in regions like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Betel nut carving "सुपारी नक्काशी" is a traditional Indian craft where artisans hand-carve intricate figurines, religious icons, and ornaments from the hard areca nut, primarily in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. Each piece showcases fine detail and skilled technique, reflecting the craft’s deep cultural and ritual significance in these regions.
Ramacham "റാമചം" (Vetiveria zizanioides), also known as khus, is a traditional Indian craft from Kerala where artisans weave its aromatic roots into cooling fans, mats, and blinds valued for their natural fragrance and utility.
The soft stem of a wild-growing water plant Shola (Aeschynomene aspera) is used to craft statuettes, and three- dimensional sculptures, known as the globally renowned Shola Pith Craft.
Bahi "बही" is a traditional clothbound accounting book from Rajasthan and Gujarat, India, recognized for its red cotton cover, hand-stitched binding, and folded paper columns. Used by traders and shopkeepers for centuries, Bahi ledgers remain important in rituals and business practices, often featuring auspicious symbols and hymns dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Agate "हकीक/अकीक | અકીક工作 " stone work traditional Indian craft from Khambhat, Gujarat, transforms locally sourced agate into beads, ornaments, and decorative objects using techniques that trace back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
Bhavani dhurries, locally known as “Jamakkalam | ஜமக்களம்", are sturdy, handwoven cotton rugs from Tamil Nadu. Crafted on traditional looms using vibrant colors and geometric patterns, they are prized for their durability and cultural heritage.
Gabba "गब्बा" is a traditional Kashmiri embroidered rug, crafted from recycled woollen blankets and cloth, known for its vibrant designs and practical warmth in homes across the region.
Namda is a traditional Kashmiri craft of making dense, felted wool rugs, renowned for their warmth and vibrant aari embroidery. These handmade rugs combine utility and artistry, reflecting the rich heritage of the Kashmir Valley.
Bobbin lace is a traditional Indian craft practiced in regions like Goa, Kanyakumari, and Telangana, where artisans twist and cross threads wound on wooden bobbins to create intricate lace patterns. This handmade textile art blends European techniques with local materials, resulting in delicate and regionally distinctive lacework.
Camel trappings "टंग" are traditional decorative bands, blankets, and girths handcrafted in Rajasthan using split-ply braiding techniques to adorn and secure camels for ceremonial, festive, and practical use.
Aari embroidery “આરી કઢાઈ” from Gujarat is a traditional Indian craft that uses a hooked needle to create intricate chain stitch patterns, often embellished with beads and metallic threads.
The expression Chamba rumal entails a distinctive visual art form that symbolizes inimitable, and charming embroidery done on a hand spun textile with untwisted silk threads, greatly inspired by pahari paintings.
Khatwa is a traditional appliqué craft from Bihar, India, where artisans hand-stitch colorful fabric motifs onto a base cloth, often using chain and straight stitch embroidery.
Konghlan boots are traditional knee-high boots from the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, hand-stitched by Bhutia artisans using yak leather, wool, and silk for protection and ceremony in Himalayan communities.
Paabu are traditional Ladakhi boots crafted from wool, felt, cloth, and leather, known for their warmth and vibrant decoration. Designed for harsh Himalayan winters, they feature regional variations in style and technique.
Bagru Dabu Block Printing "बगरू डाबू छपाई" is a unique craft that involves a mud-resist process by using wood block for printing on specially treated textiles.
This craft form refers to the mordant painted and dyeing traditions done with a kalam (pen). An inimitable form of resist painting, Kalamkari is a part of a tradition of figurative, and narrative paintings used in temples for centuries.
Bandhani "બાંધણી | बंधेज" is a traditional tie-and-dye textile art from Gujarat and Rajasthan, created by tightly tying small portions of fabric and dyeing them to form vibrant patterns.
The Telia Rumal, known by many names such as chowkas, pocket square, and Asia rumal, points to the cloth with motifs formed by an exacting process of tying, and dyeing the yarn prior to weaving.
Beautiful, tribal motifs in earthy hues of maroon and brown delicately woven into soft cotton fabrics - this defines the identity of Kotpad town in Odisha.
Bhoota figures "ಭೂತ ಮೂರ್ತಿ" are towering wooden icons carved in coastal Karnataka, representing protective nature spirits central to local spirit-worship traditions. Crafted mainly from jackfruit wood by hereditary artisans, these vivid sculptures blend folk belief and artistry. They serve as reminders of the spirits’ presence in shrines, distinct from daily temple icons
Choktse "ཁྲོག་རྩེ" is a traditional foldable wooden table from Gangtok, Sikkim, renowned for its intricate hand-carved motifs and vibrant painted finishes rooted in Tibetan heritage. Crafted from local woods like kath or tsingh, each choktse combines portability with unique artistry, making it a celebrated symbol of Sikkimese craftsmanship.
Sandalwood carving dates back by many centuries, and a succession of ruling dynasties have conferred on it a royal status. Under such patronage, the craft flourished and entire families took to this trade.
Craftsmen from the Jangid community craft sandalwood into profusely patterned and highly decorative artefacts that are usually targeted at the export market.
Gambhira mask "গম্ভীরা মুখোশ" traditional Indian craft from Malda, West Bengal features hand-carved wooden masks used in folk dance and ritual storytelling. Artisans shape expressive faces from local woods, preserving a centuries-old cultural heritage.
Kathputli is a traditional Indian craft from Rajasthan featuring brightly painted wooden string puppets dressed in regional fabrics. Artisans skillfully carve, paint, and assemble these puppets, bringing folk stories and cultural heritage to life through captivating performances.
Bhitti Chitra "भीत्ति चित्र" is a traditional Indian wall painting craft from Odisha and Rajasthan, known for its vivid murals depicting religious and mythological stories. Artisans use natural pigments to create stylized figures and narrative scenes directly on temple and home walls.
The Ganjifa or Ganjappa cards have a history dating back to the seventh century A.D. Produced majorly by two neighboring states Karnataka (Mysore) and Orissa, these circular or rectangular cards have been traditionally handcrafted and painted by artisans.
Mysore painting (ಮೈಸೂರು ಗೆಸ್ಸೋ ಚಿತ್ರವು) is a traditional Indian craft from Karnataka, known for its fine linework, low-relief gold gesso detailing, and religious themes.
Mellifluous in its name and form, Madhubani paintings are a product of the Mithila region where marshy swamps have bamboos and lotus buds blooming abound. The art heavily depicts the local flora and fauna of the expanse.
One of the most ancient forms of art works found in Odisha,
Patachitra fine art is captivating, to say the least. The craft
depicts Hindu mythological tales in all its glory.
Pithora painting (locally, પીઠોરા ચિત્રકला) fills tribal homes in western India with symbolic narratives and lively colors. This ritual art, treasured by the Rathwa, Bhil, and Bhilala communities, blends ancestral story and social tradition.
Thangka are paintings on cloth that depict the sku rten, the bodily forms of enlightened beings; or the diagrammatic mandala, the ‘sacred circle’ symbolizing the spiritual embodiment of the Buddha and the stages of spiritual realization.
Blue Pottery "नीली मिट्टी की कशीदगी" began in Persia and is currently customarily made in Jaipur. It is the only stoneware on the planet that doesn’t utilize mud.
It is generally acknowledged that lace craft is a recent introduction to the Indian subcontinent. The term crochet is derived from croc, or crochet, a Middle French term for ‘hook’.
Kerala mural painting is a traditional Indian craft from Kerala, known for its vibrant natural colors and intricate depictions of Hindu mythology on temple and palace walls
The Rabari embroidery gets its name from the community that engages in the craft. The Rabari (Rebari) are a nomadic community that traces its origins in Rajasthan and have settled over time in the semi-desert areas of Kutch, a district of Gujarat.
Gujarati pottery "ગુજરાતી માટીકા કળા", crafted by artisan communities across Gujarat, features hand-thrown vessels made from local clay and adorned with natural pigments in traditional red, black, and white motifs. These durable wares reflect centuries-old techniques rooted in the region’s cultural and ecological heritage.
Bagh block printing "बाघ छपाई" is a specific kind of block printing technique from the Bagh area in Madhya Pradesh. Bagh block printing is closely linked with the garment traditions of the Bhil and Bhilala tribes of Jhabua and Dhar.
The bell metal craft of Kutch "કચ્છના ઘંટો બનાવવાનું કળા" involves creating distinctive bells from recycled metal, primarily iron sheets and copper coatings, using a unique locking technique instead of welding.
Following the rules laid down by Shilpa Shastra, an ancient treatise on idol making and its specifications, the traditional art of Bell Metal work and idol making is deftly practiced by the Moosari community, which is a part of the larger Vishwakarma, or craftsmen community from Kerala. The material used is a super alloy bell metal and is made of copper and tin in 4:1 proportions.
Indian brassware is a traditional craft blending utility and artistry, handcrafted by skilled artisans across Moradabad, Pembarthi, and Kerala using age-old techniques and regional designs
Channapatna toys "ಚನ್ನಪಟ್ಟಣ ಬೊಂಬೆಗಳು" are handcrafted wooden toys from Karnataka’s Ramanagara district, known for their glossy lacquer finish and vibrant colors. Artisans use seasoned ivory wood and natural dyes, shaping each piece on a lathe.
Coir craft "കോയർ കൈത്തൊഴിൽ (Koyar Kaithozhil)" from Kerala is a traditional Indian craft where artisans transform coconut husk fibre into eco-friendly ropes, mats, baskets, and decorative items using age-old techniques.
Gangaur dolls "गणगौर गुड़िया" are hand-carved and painted wooden figures from Rajasthan, traditionally crafted in pairs to represent Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for ritual use during the Gangaur festival.
Nirmal toys are hand-carved wooden figures from Telangana, known for their smooth finish, vibrant colors, and detailed painting. Crafted using local softwood and traditional techniques, these toys reflect a centuries-old Indian craft heritage.
These masks, termed as ‘Kagaja Mukha’ were worn by dance and act performers since the eleventh century. The folk theatre makes use of masks made in paper and shola pith and painted in vivid colours.
The Warli tribe, living in, and around Thane district of Maharashtra, are known for the hallowed pictographs they paint on the walls of their unassuming huts during wedding rituals.
Afghani jewellery is a traditional craft from Afghanistan, especially linked to the nomadic Kuchi tribes. Known for bold, intricate designs using mixed metals, colored glass, and semi-precious stones, these pieces symbolize status and protection.
Block making is a traditional Indian craft where skilled artisans carve intricate wooden blocks used for hand-printing textiles in regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Benaras Wood Carving "बनारसी लकड़ी की नक्काशी" is a traditional craft of Benaras. The gular wood that had been chiselled numerous objects to perfection told unique mythological, and religious stories of the city, and its people.
A metal handicraft from the Bidar area in Karnataka, the origin of Bidri Ware as a craft is attributed mostly to the Bahamani Sultans who ruled the region during the 14th and 15th centuries.
Batik "बटिक" is an ancient art which uses wax and dyes to create a visual magic on fabrics. It is believed that the term is a derivation from the word Ambatik, which when translated literally stands for a piece of cloth with small dots or writing with wax, or drawing in broken lines.
Every bronze sculpture made is unique. Each one is created using the lost wax casting process for making metal statues in which a wax sculpture of an image is covered in clay, which is then baked. As the clay is heated, the wax melts away leaving a negative image of the sculpture inside the hardened clay.
Throughout Punjab, in the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities alike, women embroider odhni (veils) or chaddar (wraps) ornamented with phulkari, literally ‘flower work’ and bagh or garden, a variation where the embroidery completely covers the support material.
If one has ever visited the shrines of Noor-ud-din-Wali at Charar-e-Sharif, the Naqshbandi Mosque, or the shrine of Nund Rishi in Kashmir, one can start to fathom the sheer beauty of Walnut Wood Carving.
Moradabad is a principal cluster for art brassware in India. Brass, appreciated for its golden lustre, is sandcast, following which the various stages of production are handled by specialized craftsmen.
Wood and lac turnery thrived because of imperial support. Slowly, from the antiquated art of turning wood by hand, the craftsmen advanced to chipping away at a straightforward hand lathe.
Seashells enchanted the ancient Indian crafts people, as it is sufficiently apparent from the excavation of shell items found from different sites within the Indus valley civilization.
Having extended from Orissa to Bengal, the art of Dhokra, or lost wax bell metal casting has largely been a product of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
In Nagaland, wood carving as an art form relates mainly to architecture, and ceremonial dining utensils. It has been the forte of most of the 17 chief Naga communities in both eastern and western portions of the state.
Pink Meenakari is a crystal form of glass fused with metal oxides like silver, gold, copper, and zinc. The Meenakari of Banaras is identified by its pink color and is known as Gulabi Meenakari.
Traditionally meant to adorn the walls of temples behind the idol of Shrinathji at Nathdwara, Picchwai paintings can be identified by the characteristic features of large eyes, broad nose, and a heavy body, similar to the features on the idol of Shrinath ji.
Gond fine art is a type of folk, and ethnic art that is practised by one of the largest tribes in the country – the Gonds – who are chiefly from Madhya Pradesh, but also based in pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa.
In the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is where the main cluster for silver-coated art brass ware exists. Brass, known for its brilliant gloss, is first sandcast, and the different dimensions of production are taken care of by specific craftsmen in the region.
Intricate motifs and vivid colour schemes carefully worked over the fabric to create a bouquet on textile define a signature Parsi Gara sari. Parsi Gara saris are known for their exquisite, intricate work.
Assamese jewellers use lah (lac) to fill the frame, paat-xun (gold leaf) to embed stones and a unique stone, called kosoti khil, to test the purity of gold.
The tale of the Kanjeevaram silk sari traces back to Hindu folklore. Mythology has it that the Kanchi silk weavers are offsprings of Sage Markanda, who was known to be the master weaver for the celestial beings themselves.
Kantha, a well-known style of weaving that originates from West Bengal, is a noteworthy display that shows the skill and ability of the rural women folk in Bengal.
Though the practice of weaving in the primordial temple city of Maheshwar dates back to the 5th century, it was popularized in the sovereignty of Maratha ruler Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
The craftsmen of Manipur make baskets by cutting up whole bamboo poles into several pieces, usually about a metre long, as per the necessary requirements. The cut pieces are then split vertically into two.
A traditional art form with just a few master experts left, Marble Inlay is a delicate process that involves carefully cutting and engraving marble shapes by hand.
The Mashru textile is a vivacious, hand woven mix of silk, and cotton fabrics. The word ‘Mashru’ means ‘permitted’ in Arabic and its Sanskrit variant ‘Misru’ amounts to ‘mixed’.
Mekhela Chador is the indigenous customary Assamese dress, fundamentally the same as other conventional dresses of Southeast Asia (worn as a sarong) worn by ladies of any age with the exception of kids.
These sculptures have a unique style in the form ofnarrative plaques, tiles and murals made from the mud dug out of the banks of the river Banas. The craftsmen refrain from using any material that is not organic.
The making of baskets is an age-old craft of leisure which was practised by the elderly males of the family in the traditional rural economy of Nagaland.
Palm-leaf weaving is a part of cultural heritage in Pulicat.Generations of women at Pulicat have been creating magic with their palm leaf baskets and artefacts.
The Jaipuri quilt is unique for both its artistic looks as well as its functionality. These quilts are handmade and it involves skills related to textile-making, cotton carding, quilting and voile making.
The humble Sikki grass that grows in the marshy areas in Mithila, Bihar, is transformed by women into a range of objects for ritualistic, and everyday use.
The Jangids in Rajasthan region have extended their wood cutting skills to silver work as well, adjusting their prowess to demonstrate three-dimensional items on the lines of a vast number of silver items.
Carving on soapstone has been practised as an art since ancient times. A range of products such as jewellery, cooking paraphernalia, and sculptures are carved even today.
Jewellery is an intrinsic part of the Indian psyche and cultural ethos. There are three distinct kinds of South Indian jewellery - temple jewellery, spiritual jewellery and bridal jewellery.
Patan Patola, one of the most celebrated textile traditions from Gujarat, is traditionally distinguished by the weaving of individually dyed warp and weft strands to generate surface patterns as per the design.
Kani means wooden bobbins or small sticks in Kashmiri. Shawls are woven into intricate patterns, with the weft thrown across before coloured threads are woven in on a meticulous, coded pattern drawn by a master craftsman.
Papier-mache; French for “chewed paper”, is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste.
Jawaja leather is a flourishing craft with its unique identity and style. The beauty of Jawaja leather work is the evenly stitched leather strips instead of threads.
India has three main centres of Ikat weaving – Telangana , Orissa and Gujarat. Pochampally (Telangana) ikat uses double ikat technique and boasts of transferring the intricate design onto the fabric with nothing short of perfection.
Glass came to India with the invaders from the Islamic world. It was Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh that became the centre of excellence and met the royal demand for jhad and fanus (types of chandeliers), and produced vials for perfumes.
Traditionally stitched by village women in Gujarat’s Kachch region for themselves, their families, festive occasions, to honour deities or to generate wealth, the beautifully patterned Kachchi Embroidery "કચ્છની કઢાઈ" on tie-dyed black wool epitomises the celebration of life.
The illustrative Pahari painting (literally translating to ‘a painting from the mountainous area’; pahar is ‘mountain’ in Hindi) is a wider term used to denote a form of Indian paintings, fashioned mostly in miniature shapes.
Split Ply Braiding has been found extensively in Rajasthan, Gujarat, North West India and a few other places, where it has mainly been used to make camel girths and animal regalia.
Bhujodi or Dhabla weaving "ભુજોડી જે નુ વણાટ" is practised by the Vankar community of Kutch. Traditionally they use organic sheep and camel wool. The weave is identified by the intricate details colourfully depicted in a mix of organic and geometric forms.
Jantar Mantar complex is one of the unique marvels born out of this mastered art of stone carving and the determination of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
"અહીર ભારત" Ahir is one of the many tribes of the Kutch region, which under the patronage of the royal family, found their distinctive style of embroidery.
Hoshiarpur in Punjab opens up an awe-inspiring display of Inlay woodworks. Inlaying is a technique of engraving various small motifs into hollowed-out spaces of wood to make a uniquely designed pattern on its surface. The craft has an origin history of 300 years. It is traced back to when Hoshiarpur was the centre of ivory bangle making. Small cuts of ivory were discarded during the process of making bangles and combs which were then used by the artisans to adorn small objects by creating beautiful designs.
Godhadi "गोधडी" is a type of blanket native to Maharashtra. They are made by using refurbished old saris or pieces of clothes, which are joined together by hand stitches, using traditional thread and needles. It is the art of discarded fabric. Every Godhadi is different with an artisan touch to it. Godhadi is a layer of cloths of various sizes attached.
When most people think of macrame, their mind travels back to the bohemian-inspired wall hangings of the 1960s and '70s. Macramé’s roots are pretty interesting, with a history dating back thousands of years.
Kharad, also known as Kharad Dhurries are exquisitely handwoven carpets and rugs.
Weaving Kharad is an age-old craft practised by the nomadic communities of Kutch that brings alive the colour, tradition and way of life of the community.
Sambalpuri Ikat weave, which has its origins in the Sambalpur belt of Odisha, reflects a craft called Ikat (also known as Bandha in the local Lingo). It is an ancient dyeing technique used to create a distinct style of textile pattern.
The tribal jewellery of Odisha is an intricate part of the community's identity and social customs. These jewellery are derivative of ancestral tradition and hold cultural significance to the men and women who wear them.
Ganjapa cards from Orissa, a unique form of traditional Indian playing cards, embody a rich blend of cultural heritage and artistic craftsmanship. These cards, distinct in their design and creation, are deeply rooted in the history and artistic traditions of the Orissa region. ଗଞ୍ଜିଫା" (Ganjapa)
Longpi pottery " ꯂꯣꯡꯄꯤ " is a traditional Indian craft from Manipur, crafted by the Tangkhul Naga tribe using hand-molded black stone and clay. Each piece is uniquely shaped without a potter’s wheel, resulting in sturdy, heat-retentive cookware and serveware celebrated for its natural, eco-friendly properties.