Music and Arts
Zardozi: Is the golden embroidery of Bareilly losing its sheen?
Zari zardozi – the manual art of embroidering golden or silver threads on fabric and embellishing with sequins – a once-thriving art in Uttar Pradesh – appears to be moving past its golden days because of Chinese machine-made embroidery.
Fading notes of Kashmiri santoor
Ghulam Muhammad Zaz could be Kashmir’s last santoor maker, despite the instrument being integral to Sufi and Kashmiri folk music.
Swara Mountain Arts-the amalgamation of talent
Blending fun and learning, the Swara Mountain Arts Festival 2024 in Dharamshala brought together talented artists and mentors under one roof. Here are a few highlights from this vibrant event.
Straw artist Pradeepta Nayak preserves heritage using paddy waste
Armed with little more than paddy straws and a boundless imagination, Odisha’s national award-winning artist Pradeepta Nayak resurrects an ancient art form and empowers women in his native Jirala village through his craft.
The arts are bigger than us: Dancer Navtej Johar
Navtej Johar is a trailblazer in more ways than one. In an exclusive interview with Village Square, he talks about the past, present and future of Bharatnatyam, yoga and LGBTQ+ rights in India.
Three generations, one melody: Meet Saas Bahu Ki Jodi
Geeta Parag, who forms the ‘Saas Bahu ki Jodi’, a trio of bhakti (devotional) singers along with her mother-in-law and daughter in Madhya Pradesh, overcomes social dictates and inspires young women and girls to embrace their musical heritage.
Majuli mask of Assam receives GI tag
Majuli masks of Assam receive the prestigious Geographical Indicator(GI) tag for their unique cultural tradition. The craft dates back to the 15th century and is made on bamboo frames, with unique clay.
Have you heard these rural Indian musical instruments yet?
Rural India is a repository of folk music traditions. Here is a round-up in images of some of the musical instruments that are a part of this rich legacy. They certainly strike the right chord in the community, don’t they?
Kashmir’s turquoise crafts may fade into oblivion
Turquoise jewellery encapsulates Kashmir's rich cultural heritage. The traditional craft got severely impacted due to covid as many craftsmen moved to other jobs. Mohammad Hanief finds himself the sole torchbearer of this tradition today.
5 folk theatre forms that are a must-watch
India is home to several folk theatre forms, some hundreds of years old. This World Theatre Day, we do a round-up of five popular folk theatre forms that live on in the distant corners of the country.
Bihar women weave a new future with sikki grass
In Bihar's Jhanjharpur block, Munni Devi weaves not just baskets, toys and dolls but also the futures of other women in her village with Madhubani’s magical sikki grass.
Delhi grooves to sights and sounds of rural India
Vignettes from rural life came alive at a special evening held to felicitate the winners of Village Square’s Annual Photo Exhibition, as the Delhi audience were mesmerised by the winning photos and live folk music performances.
Sohrai workshop brings together artistic hiveminds
Khwabgaon near Jhargram experienced a collaborative exchange between two cultures as artists from Hazaribag, Jharkhand, came over to Konedoba in Jhargram district and painted an illustrative Sohrai mural for three days.
Miniaturist preserves legacy of the Darjeeling toy train
‘In the hills of Darjeeling, the toy train runs in my blood,’ says Sanjeev Bagdas, one of the last remaining artists handcrafting miniature replicas of the iconic Himalayan locomotive
In Tripura, balladeers of snake goddess battle drug crisis with music
This music band in Jolaibari village of Tripura revives near-obsolete folk performance of Manasamangal, dedicated to snake goddess Manasa, with a message – Don’t do drugs.
Letters that sing and dance
Warnamala Pariwar, a Kalimpong-based organisation, uses local references to make education more fun for young children by integrating music, animation and games into alphabet lessons.
Manipur kindergarten kids learn to rock
Pam’s Kindergarten in Ukhrul seamlessly integrates music with the foundations of early education, showcasing the remarkable talents of its young students, particularly with the ukulele.
Transgender student uses art to reach hearts
Arnavi Sharma is a final-year student at the Institute of Music and Fine Arts in Jammu University. She strives to create awareness about the LGBTQ community through her artwork and especially for those struggling to own their identities.
‘My songs come from my heart’: Pushpan Pradhan
Pushpan Pradhan, who grew up seeing his parents toil in a tea plantation, makes music to bring attention to the working class. He talks about his journey in an exclusive interview with Village Square.
Dance to the beats of dollu at this Karnataka festival
In Karnataka’s folk heritage, the energetic drum dance of dollu kunitha weaves together devotion, tradition, artistic expression, and entertainment, connecting people with their roots.