Handicrafts: Art In It's Most Unadulterated Form

The word handicrafts encompasses a wide variety of work where useful as well as decorative objects are made by hand or only by using the simplest of tools. Handicrafts are generally made from textiles, moldable materials as well as from rigid materials. An important thing to note here is the fact that handicrafts have their roots in rural crafts and have been made since the ancient ages, an example being dhokra ( a type of metal casting) that has been used in India for over 4000 years. All this history attached with handicrafts certainly gives them a unique charm and is one of the major reasons for people's fascination with them, irrespective of their culture, occupation, age, gender etc.

Handicrafts

Handicrafts are ideal to use for decorative purposes, informative purposes etc. in a wide range of places, whether it be living spaces, working spaces, public places etc. Another indisputable fact is that the usage of handicraft enhances the overall decor of any place, making it look unique and people friendly. Although handicrafts are loved by almost everyone, some people are handicraft connoisseurs, going to great lengths and spending a great deal of resources to acquire them. Some notable examples of handicrafts are vintage carved horn bird, handmade round diya, steel shield, wooden coasters etc.

Indian Handicrafts That Are Popular The World Over

India has a rich history of handicrafts dating back to over 4000 years. There are innumerable references to our handicrafts being sought after even in the ancient and medieval ages. Some Indian handicrafts that are widely popular across the globe are as follows,

1.  East and north east Indian handicrafts such as the famed madhubani painting of Bihar, artistic textile weaving and wood carving of Meghalaya etc.
2.  West Indian handicrafts such as bandhani, shellac bangles of Gujarat, kolhapuri chappals of Maharashtra etc.
3.  North Indian handicrafts such as phulkari ( duppattas with mirror embroideries) of Rajasthan, rugs having spectacular geometric designs of Haryana, enameled jewellery of Uttar Pradesh etc.
4.  South Indian handicrafts such as silk sarees of Tamil Nadu, woodcraft of Karnataka etc.
   

   

   handicrafts

5 Places In India That Are Globally Renowned For Their Handicrafts

1.     Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
2.     Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
3.     Pipli, Orissa
4.     Sualkuchi, Assam
5.     Changthang region, Ladakh

Conclusion

Every country takes initiatives with regards to promoting it's handicrafts. The initiatives range in the form of providing support to increase global awareness about the handicrafts, undertaking events such as handicraft exhibitions, providing incentives to increase the sale of handicrafts and many more. The Indian government is also putting the requisite focus on increasing the global awareness about handicrafts, since it realizes that India with a documented history of over 5000 years has a lot to offer to the world. One more important fact to note here is that the primary reason for every country to promote it's handicrafts is the fact that handicrafts play a very important role in increasing it's soft power.