Handicraft
Bamboo Work – a tribal art of making household and decorative items
Bamboo Work has an especial place in the local craftof Madhya Pradesh, in rural pockets in particular. When one is on the tour of the state, he even finds houses with the bamboo door. Bamboo thickets are a common sight, and the tribals are experts at putting it to use.
The major bamboo producing centers in the state are the regions of Balaghat, Shahdol, Seoni and Mandla. This craft form is much encouraged by the government of the state and earns huge revenue for the government as well as help in uplifting the tribals.
Apart from articles of domestic utility, Gond, Baiga, Korku and Basor or Basod communities make decorative items out of bamboo; agricultural implements, fishing traps, hunting tools, baskets to name a few. The local artisans have skillfully harmonized their age-old techniques and knowledge with innovative designs to meet the demands of modern market. These communities usually put them up for sale in weekly markets.
A visit to the state gives you a chance to see this mesmerizing work of the craft from close quarters. So hurry.
Dolls and toys – dolls made of rags acclaimed worldwide
Here we have conventional dolls and toys made of cloth pieces and clay in Madhya Pradesh, pretty, all time favourite and ready for good-buy, perhaps a steal if the prices are considered.
Gwalior, in special, specializes in making rags dolls, done in a very traditional way by painting onto them facial expressions which liven up the features. The costumes are customarily made out of paper with boat shaped turbans on their head and are draped in saris made out of paper with proper jewellery. Dolls of Battobai, a craftswoman of the city, are renowned world wide, even exported in large number. Bhopal and Jhabua are other towns of the state that specialize in the craft.
Speaking of handmade clay toys, they are in general cast in hollow shapes, though solid figures are not exceptional. Children most like toys of animal figures like horses, elephants, dogs, lions, birds, deer and bulls fixed on wheels. The figures are usually small and creatively finished with the solid figures being more trendy than the hollow ones.
Metalwork – Gadhavs of Southern Madhya Pradesh instill distinct creativity in their artifacts
Practiced by tribes, metalwork of Madhya Pradesh has uniqueness of creativity and spontaneity. The Gadhavs of Southern Madhya Pradesh living in the isolation from sophisticated world express their wonderful views about life, nature and the gods through this traditional work of theirs.
The Gond, Muria, Bhatra and Dhruva are other practicing tribes of the craft. They offer iron horses, swings, trishuls (trident, the symbol of the Hindu god Shiva) to gods on accomplishment of their wishes and desires. Diyas (lamps), carved elegantly, are gifted to brides to take to their husband’s home.
Dhokra work, the predominantly hollow-cast artifacts, is produced by the lost-wax process, which has long been known to these pre-Aryan communities. Unlike the fastidious waxwork of their counterparts to the south, they construct a model in free and rapid way.
he blacksmiths from southern Madhya Pradesh forge and cast delightful range of oil lamps, tools and statues from iron. The work depicts animals, birds and men. For the work they using only a few tools and a simple furnace of a handful of coals. Such work now adorns many city homes and most foreigners love to carry a few pieces back to their country.
Ornaments and Jewellery – creative twisting of thread itself regarded an adornment in tribal community
All kinds of ornamentation is evident in the live of people of Madhya Pradesh, expressly in that of tribes, be it gold, silver, bronze and mixed metal jewellery, ornaments made of beads, cowries and feathers or all time favorite lac jewellery. Tribal Jewelry of the state is famous all over India for its exquisite designing, uniqueness, artistry and variety. The various cultural regions have their own distinct styles. Though all aforementioned ornaments are admired both nationally and internationally, silver Jewelry is regarded as a most popular.
Silver Jewelry of the state is a major appeal for tourists. And the jewellery consists of various types of ear rings, bead chains, chokers and hair ornaments of traditional design, some highly priced and some other cheaper. Many these ornaments even have studding of luxurious pearls and stones. These silver ornaments are also coated with enamel work, which gives them an attention-grabbing look. Hansuli (necklace) and anklets of clove shape are some of the distinguished silver jewellries of Madhya Pradesh. The anklets are usually made of silver beads and cast in one piece that is called lauang kasauthi.
Talking of tribal Jewellry or folk jewllery, it is made of beads, cowries, metals, and even feather. Moreover, the intricate, creative twisting of thread was itself considered an embellishment to round or octahedronal metal beads used in tribal communities. They often weave cotton thread into a broad band as a textured or patterned base, and then loop in buttons, beads or metallic droplets intermittently. Tikamgarh, Jhabua and Sheopur kalan are prominent centeres of these sorts of ornaments. The rural and tribal women folk of Malwa and Nimar regions are exceptionally fond of these jewelleries, too.
Tribal metal smiths use the conventional process of cire perdue casting, or lost wax process to style the ornaments. The work requires specialization and for each technique, there is a specialised craftsperson whose family has been practicing this family craft for over three to four generations.
The Government of Madhya Pradesh is making attempts to encourage the cause of the Tribals of the state by giving them enough scope to display their craft form like Tribal Jewelry. Not surprisingly, it brings in sufficient revenue for the government.
Lac jewellery is famous at Rewa and Indore. Chokers, bead chains, ear rings and hair ornaments of lac having golden luster and moulded in the traditional designs are just some of them. Mangalsutra (worn by the married ladies as a symbol of being married) and hansuli(necklace) are the other famous ornaments.
Papier Mache
In Madhya Pradesh, the craftsmen create elaborate and utilitarian objects from something as simple as paper. Papier Mache products are known all throughout Madhya Pradesh.
Papier mache, the creation of ornate articles like vases, figurines and icons, is most popular in Ujjain, though Gwalior, Bhopal, Ratlam, Harda, Sanchi.and Indore are other cities of the state where it is widely practiced. The Nagvanshi community, known for making mud toys and dolls, is also engaged in the making of papier mache articles.
Craftsperson in Bhopal and Gwalior make papier mache toys, statues, birds, animals and even decorative panels. At Ujjain, the craft of papier mache brings to life different kinds of wonderfully crafted birds and models of deities. Artisans use natural colours in the work. Of late, the craftsperson are known to be experimenting to create decorative pottery and furniture in papier mache. The other products made from papier mache are human figures animals, cartoons and models of famous historical buildings such as Khajruraho.
The government of Madhya Pradesh encourages these handmade items. It also helps in uplifting the cause of the backward people and artisans whose main source of income comes from these craftworks.
Pottery – tribes make statues of animals to offer them to God as sacrifice
The terracotta pottery of Madhya Pradesh, especially one that tribes of Bundelkhand practice, is outstanding and widely acclaimed. They have the mastery in the life-size images of human forms.
The tribes make statues of elephants, serpents, birds and horses, imcomparable in their simplicity and offer them to the local deity in place of sacrifice. Such statues are kept under a tree or in a shrine.
The Bhils of Jhabua and adjacent Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat also trust in animal offerings made from clay. Their potters mould distinctive clay horses, camels, elephants, tigers and bullocks for offering.
The terracotta animals, which are set down in the sacred grove lying in a secluded spot near the settlement, are clustered together in a mixture of new and old. They all then ultimately disintegrate and return to the earth in their turn.
Sarguja, Raipur and Raigarh tradition of decorative roof top tiles made partly by hand moulding and partly on the wheel. These tiles, shaped like half tubes, have on top of them figures of elephants, monkeys, bears, reptiles, gods and goddesses.
Stone-Carving
Stone sculpture of Madhya Pradesh is perhaps the best in the world. For example, the famous rock cut temples of Vidisha, the sculptured stone temples of Khajuraho, the monuments of Orchha and Gwalior, they all corroborate the uniqueness and originality of the stone carvers of the state. Guilds of masons and stone carvers have existed since the 7th century B.C. In the beginning, there existed a system of apprenticeship but later skills were handed down as family lore, from father to son. Gwalior, Jabalpur, Tikamgarh and Bastar are main towns where this craft is widely practiced.
The style varies from city to city. Gwalior specializes in jali (lattice) work, Jabalpur and Tikamgarh in decorative items such as statues of animals and human figures while Bastar in icons of tribal gods and goddesses and memorial pillars. The soft marble rocks from Bhedaghat, situated close to Jabalpur, are very flexible in nature and thus the ideal raw material for making decorative objects like various figurines, boxes and carved panels.
Soapstone is in main used for shaping and carving idols. Even there are many villages in Bastar where one finds shrines with stone idols. The idols made are of Budhi Mai, Danteshwai, Khanda Kanalin, Phiranta Mata, Jhitku-Mitki, Banga Ram, Andhar Devi, Sendia Mata, Mavli Devi and Rao Dev. All these are some of the most important gods and goddesses worshipped by the tribals, particularly by the Muria, Mahara and Rawat communities. The deities are believed to protect the village from evil forces and diseases.
The large tool used for cutting is called as basula, and the chisels (of various shapes and sizes ) used for fine carving are known as pataasis. The other tools used are guniya, a compass for measurement, and a chisel with a slight depression which is used to make grooves. Women and children polished the idols with polishing stones or battas.
There are five types of stones available for the work. Rajouri is the most durable. The stone most suitable for carving idols is dingi, and another type of stone known as dauver is used for making lattices. A pink and white stone called sudapaal is found in Bastar. This is quite soft and easily carved.
Tribals of this state also take active interest in stone carving and make certain household items like the silbatta (a flat stone surface meant for grinding purposes), mortar and pestle, handi (vessel for cooking vegetables and rice), chakla (a platform for rolling chapattis) and chakki. Most of these items are lightly carved with designs. Chakkis, especially, occupy a significant position in Indian households as they are believed to ward off evil spirits.
Stuffed Leather Toys – the craft of toy making has now evolved to production of garments and other items of utility
The stuffed leather toys of Madhya Pradesh, skillfully crafted and available in various forms, are very attractive. In the course of evolution, the craft has now expanded to production of items of utilities, dresses and so on.
Leather work has been practiced in Madhya Pradesh for a number of years. Chanda, a small town of the state, was once renowned for red leather embroidered with gold, interspersed with coloured silk. In the craft, shields made of richly carved rhinoceros skin are a specialty of Madhya Pradesh. The carvings on them are inspired from grand structures as palaces and mosques. Sometimes the leather is excessively cured, rendered translucent and made ornamental. These are embellished by jewellery while taking care of its fine surface at the same time.
Leather animals of the state are famous for their unparalleled beauty. In the process of making, artists first prepare the frame work with the use of iron wire and then shape it up in the required size. Later, dry grass is wrapped on this structure and joined with thread. The flour of tamarind seeds is mixed with papier mache and applied. Artist is very careful while moulding the anatomical details of the animal’s body. A thin soft goat-leather piece is put on to the product to complete the animal. Rest of the finishing to the product is given by painting the animals with the natural bright colours.
The craft is practiced in a number of towns of the state besides Chandna. Craftspersons in Gwalior, Indore and Dewas make leather shoes, jutties, leather bags, mushk (traditional leather bag in which water is carried) etc. During the long period of evolution, many new products have come up. Nowadays, Indore and Dewas specialize in making leather garments, too. Furthermore, Gwalior is making shoes on a large scale.
Paintings – tribes draw wall and floor paintings on festive occasions, also to thank Almighty on a fulfilled wish
The art of painting in Madhya Pradesh dates back to prehistoric times if drawings on walls of caves and rock shelters (like world heritage site of the state Bhimbetka) is something to go by. Obviously, the paintings have twofold purpose to serve – adorning homes and appeasing deities. The prominent drawing forms of the state include Pithora Paintings, Mandana Painting and Mughal miniature paintings
To begin with, Pithora paintings that are drawn on walls, generally first wall of the house and two other walls surrounding it, denote the traditions of rural India, usually featuring horses, elephants, tigers, birds, gods, men and objects of daily life.
The paintings make use of quite unusual materials; for example the colors are prepared by amalgamating pigments with milk and liquid which is made from the auspicious Mahuda tree. Furthermore, the unmarried girls of the household plaster the walls with mud and cow dung and then coat the walls with chalk powder, the very procedure being called lipna. It is now the wall is ready for painting.
Pithora Paintings have an important place in the life of the aboriginal tribes of Rathwas, Bhilals, and Naykas of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. These paintings are usually drawn prior to celebration like weddings, childbirth, festivals. In fact, this type of painting can be termed as a rite rather than an art form because its purpose is to show gratitude to God for a fulfilled wish. The Bhils also practice this sort of painting.
Mandana Painting, the drawing to decorate not only walls but floor as well, is famous for reflecting the expressions of the people and represents the socio-cultural ambience of the region. It is believed this painting truly exemplifies tribal influence.
The theme of Mandana Painting is broadly inspired by local festivals such as Karwa Chauth, Deepawali, Ahoi Ashtami, Nag Panchmi and Sanjhi. The painting uses home made colors and a mixture of red clay and cow dung applied to smear the surface. Mainly, women artists are involved in this art. Usual motifs that Mandana Painting depicts are peacocks, cats, lions, goojari, bawari, swastik and chowk.
Mughal Miniature paintings of Madhya Pradesh, brought in India by Mughals from Iran, are a unique fusion of the Iranian style with the traditional Indian art. The synthesis of the two elements occurred during the regime of Humayun who had fondness for arts.
Madhya Pradesh Mughal miniature paintings are distinct from the Iranian miniatures having philosophical content. The Mughal miniatures portray a clearly defined narrative content. The usage of vivacious hues like red, blue, yellow and green owes a lot to the native influence. The themes of paintings range from events, court life scenes, hunting scenes and wild life.
Woodcarving – artisans even carve grain-measuring instruments out of wood
The art of wood carving has thrived in several parts of Madhya Pradesh for. Splendidly embellished wooden ceilings, lintels and doors with finely carved patterns found in the forts, palaces and some old houses unfold the story of wood carving in the state. Wood carvers of the state, usually tribes, use variety of woods, as shisham, teak, dhudi, sal and kikar, for this work.
The tribals are blessed with the inherent art of carving and make very attractive items ranging from wooden chowkies made for measuring grains to wedding pillars ( commonly made by Gonds and Korkus tribes) to doors, seat, supporting beams and even musical instruments as dhanks, mandals, dhols and dhangs (made by the Nimar tribes). Also, there are wooden lamps made in a very artistic way.
The craftspersons of the state also specialize in making pipes, masks, doors, window frames and sculptures. In the state, one also finds a variety of painted and lacquered woodcraft items such as toys, boxes, bedposts, cradle posts and flower vases.
The chief centers of Wood Craft of Madhya Pradesh are Sheopur-Kalan (Morena), Gwalior, Budhni (Raisen), Rewa, Bastar , Malwa, Nimar and Bundelkhand.
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