In a land with great diversity in arts and crafts, a Geographical Indication (GI) tag goes a long way according to these art forms the recognition that is due to them. Here is the first of a two-part feature on India’s crafts, which have a GI tag.
Given the expansive culture of India, it would turn out to be an arduous task to recount every arts and crafts tradition of the country. However, we strive here to list some of the few important arts and crafts products awarded with the Geographical Indication (G.I.) tag by the Government of India.
G.I. tags are an important mark of the authentic traditional arts and crafts products made in various regions of India. All handicraft products of India have their roots in certain areas and traditions.
The process of granting certain products a G.I. tag helps protect Indian crafts, and helps the region and its people get the recognition they deserve. It also aids in growing the visibility of those products in the global market.
Here are some such arts and crafts that have a GI tag.
These carpets are handmade by the Tibetan refugees residing in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The carpets are made in a special way using the knot technique, while organic colours are used to dye the carpets in elegant colours. The designs on the carpets are symbolic of the nature and biodiversity of the region and flower motifs are common.
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The Wancho wooden craft is a technique of making human and animal sculptures from wood. It is primarily done by the Wancho tribe (also known as Wancho Naga) of Arunachal Pradesh.
One of the central motifs of this wood carving tradition is the head-hunting scenes. This craft is deeply rooted in the socio-ethnic culture of the Wancho tribe. The carvings made from this technique are primarily used as decorative pieces for houses and also as special gifts.
Dating back to the sixteenth century, this art form is named after the largest river island in the state of Assam called Majuli. The art form flourished under the patronage of the Ahom-Koch kings, and was widely used to decorate their courts. Today, it is still practised in the monasteries of Majuli. These paintings are generally done on the barks of agarwood trees (also called sanchi pat). Scenes from Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavat Purana were illustrated in these paintings.
This unique style of mural painting is made by the local tribal women of Barkagaon block in the Hazaribagh district. It is generally associated with the harvest season and marriage rituals. These murals are made using indigenous ingredients like natural soils of varying colours such as yellow, black, white and red.
Made by the women of the Dongria Kondh tribe hailing from the Niyamgiri hills of Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, Kapdaganda shawls have recently been granted the GI tag.
These shawls are usually made from a coarse off-white fabric with diagonal satin stitches of red, yellow and green threads. Adorned with beautiful geometrical patterns of lines and triangles, these designs are symbolic of the trees and mountains in the area and the importance that nature holds for the tribe.
A tie-and-dye technique of handloom weaving, Ikat is also known as Bandha in the traditional Odia language. This technique involves the dying of yarn in a zig-zag manner made of cotton or silk fabric. The blurry and colourful patterns that are woven within the fabric make for unique designs for sarees.
Also read : Explore the richness of traditional Indian art
A distinctive style of mural painting, this art form comes from the Lanjia Saura tribe in the Rayagada district of Odisha. Also known as Idital, these paintings are made on the mud walls of people’s homes. These paintings generally include figures of gods, spirits, animals, humans and nature. They are painted with stark white paint over crimson backgrounds.
The age-old craft of Koftgari has been practised for years and is mainly utilised to adorn the weaponry of the Rajasthani warrior clans, the Rajputs. Koftgari essentially means to encrust one type of metal over the other. Originating from the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, this craft is usually practised by the Gadi-Lohar community, a group of generational traditional armourers.
Made by the Meghwal community of Rajasthan, the Kashidakari craft is well known for its attractive and colourful mirror work as well as stitching. Native to the city of Bikaner in Rajasthan, the craft boasts traditional designs made on cloth. This craft is seen on various merchandise related to special occasions, such as marriages and other gift items.
It’s a unique form of tie-dye that incorporates an ethnic twist. Considered a popular cultural heritage originating from Jodhpur in Rajasthan, this craft produces an alluring array of patterns on cloth. From dots to various patterns of swirls, this labour-intensive technique requires the manipulation of cotton threads on cloth to develop unique designs. This style is used to create numerous traditional clothes, such as kurtas, dupattas and sarees.
Also read: A rich legacy of toys and board games in India
This story first appeared on MeMeraki.
Arushi Mishra is a passionate art enthusiast with a penchant for exploring different forms of art. She has a BA English (Hons) degree.
The lead image on top depicts a representational image depicting some Indian crafts that have a GI tag. (Photo courtesy MeMeraki)
MeMeraki is India’s first culture tech platform, using technology to empower and accelerate the artisan creator economy. Their mission is to digitise every heritage art and craft of India to ultimately create sustainable livelihoods for artisans.
