Welcome to varanasi Art & culture (Handicrafts)

Craft

The Colours of Life The crafts of Kashi are a reflection of its many-hued culture. The life and work of the craftsmen of Kashi are deeply entwined with the socal and religious life of the city. On auspicious days and on festivals, toy -makers, basket weavers and metal-workers all sot up colourful stalls in the city. At these impromptu melas or fairs, you will find a tempting range ot items made of terracotta, wood and paper. With them, you will also find lively papiei machc masks, household articles in metal and many. many decorative items. Kashi's traditional crafts are all made from rreeh available local material and are all environment-friendly

'Commerce had as many pilgrims as religion. All afontj (he shores of the ucncruble stream lay great fleets of vessels laden with rich merchandise. From the looms of Benaras went forth the most delicate silks that adorned the ballrooms of St James and of Versailles............'
- Thomas Babbington Macaulay. I8th century-

Pottery

Archaeolopc.il excavations at Raj Ghat have proved that Pottery was .1 fine local skill even in the time of the ancient aryans. The local potter will tell vou that dav trim. banks of the Ganga is- ideal earthenware. There is a popular belief that potters from here should not be bought by outsiders as the earth of Varanasi should not be taken away beyond its boundaries. toys, an endless variety of birds, animal and human figures, are both shaped by hand and made with moulds. Then they are dried, tired in the kiln and painted. Some toys used tor religious rituals are not baked but just sun-dried and then painted. The people of varanasi pay tribute to the humble potter in the month of Bhadra (August/september),when a 16 day fair called Sorahaiya ka Mela held at Lakshmi Kund exclusively for the potters of Kashi.An endless variety of pottery is available in Kashi. The archeo- logical excavations at Rajghat proved that the city had skilled potters even in the time of the ancient Aryans. Toys, birds, an-imals and human figures are shaped and molded by hand. Later, they are dried, baked in kilns and painted. A 16-day fair is also held at Laxmikund by the locals for potters in the month of August.

Wooden Toys

The wooden toys of Varanasi have always been popular with pilgrims and travellers. They are either hand-carved of turned on lathes. Among this ourite figures are those Hanuman, and other deiti and demons from the animals. Bright red containers in different shap indside POP hindu weddings in Varanasi are incomplete without the marwa,the wooden tree of life wooden bowls used during the yajna or fire ceremony. these wooden tree can be seen at all the bazaars of the city, especially during the auspicious month when most hindu wideings take place.

Traditional Paintings

kashi has a vibrant tradition of miniature and folk painting and, even today, the outer walls and doorways of houses are covered with eye-catching paintings, while murals decorate interiors. For the people, the kumbha or the folk painter is a part of their family festivities. The painters decorate houses before festivals and weddings with auspicious motifs like fish, parrots, peacocks and banana trees. These artists also paint the kohbar or the marriage chamber, which is ritually decorated with auspicious signs and symbols, as well as narrative murals.

Jewellery
The city is also famous for fine craftsmanship of gold and silver. Gulabi Meenakari (pink enamelling) is an art unique to Varanasi. The enamel patterns are inspired by the textile designs.

Bamboo craft
Bamboo umbrellas, that have become an ubiquitous sight at the ghats, are the unique creation of local craftsmen who also make baskets, bird cages, bows and ar-rows, boxes and utility articles, which are very popular.

Carpets
The hand knotted carpets of neighbouring Bhadohi do not need an introduction. Several outlets have opened in the city too. Handmade carpets are pro- duced by skilled craftsmen whose rich repertoire of designs and techniques have been received down the generations.

Miscellany
Apart from silk sarees, bro-cades and carpets, Varanasi also offers you brassware, copperware, stone inlay work, glass beads and bangles, wood and clay toys, zari work, and exquisite gold jewellery. The main shopping areas for these are again, Chowk, Godaulia, Vishwanath Lane, Cyan Vapi, Thatheri Baazar, Dasashvamedh, Goldhar and Lahurabir. Metallic artifacts and decorative articles like bells are the speciality of the kaseras and thathera arti- sans, who traditionally operate from Thatheri Bazaar. The typical masks of deities and demons like Hanuman, Ganesha, Ravana, and Garuda are exported from here to various parts of the country for Ramleela artistes.

Other Carfts

The animated, brightly-coloured papier mache masks of Hindu deities like Hanuman, Garuda and Ravana worn by Ram Leela actors all over the country are also typical of Kashi. The bamboo umbrellas that give the varanasi ghats their distinctive character are made by the local bamboo craftsmen who also make and sell baskets boxes bird cages, mats and toy bows and arrows that are avilable in shops Dasashwamedh Ghat. the artisans working with bell metal, copper and brass, the kesaras and thatheras. traditionally operate from the Thatheri Gali. Brass and bell metalare can be seen stacked in glowing rows m the main bazaars especially in Vishwanath Gali

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