The rich history of India’s craft tradition has
evolved over the centuries offering a legacy of Indian culture promising
everything - beauty, dignity, form and style. The variety is
comprehensive and ranges from age-old stone carvings to modern
handicrafts. The most popular crafts, include wooden furniture, metal
ware, earthenware, pottery, sculpting, woodwork, hand-printed textiles
and scarves, embroidered and crocheted goods, shawls, zari products,
stone carving and imitation jewelry.
There is a myriad of art and craft traditions in
India that depend on social, economic and regional factors. The present
status of the sector in India owes much to the rich crafts history and
tradition of the past. Majority of the crafts from the past continues to
flourish due to their utilitarian characteristics and popularity in
domestic and global markets.
The present day handicraft tradition of India is a
perfect example of assimilation between the traditional designs and
modern techniques. The fast growing demand for Indian handicraft and
gifts products have made this sector a full-fledged large scale
organized industry that is growing day by day.
Today, some of the sectors within the craft industry have even become
full fledged industries in their own, like - wooden furniture, carpet
weaving, traditional textile, gem cutting and polishing, jewelry making,
the world famous diamond cutting and polishing industry, brassware, jute
products, etc. The growth of these industries is due to their
ever-increasing demand and the popularity of Indian crafts in the
domestic market and overseas.
The items, which account for a major share of export
turnover, include - wooden furniture , metalware, hand-printed textiles,
hand-knotted and embroidered textiles, leather goods, stoneware,
paintings and sculpture, jewelry.
With 30 states, 18 languages and more than 1500 dialects, the country
offers an enormous range of handicrafts from different states and
regions. Major production centers are, The Western Rajasthan, jodhpur is
known for its traditional wooden furniture and wrought iron furniture,
Jaipur for quilts, printed textiles from Bagru and Sanganer. The coastal
state of Gujarat offers famous embroidered articles from Kutch. Uttar
Pradesh - Moradabad also known as the "Peetalnagari" (City of Brass),
Saharanpur for its wooden articles, Ferozabad for Glass. Narsapur in
Andhra Pradesh is known for its Lace and Lace goods. But all this is
only a small portion of total product range. The country offers much
more.
The dynamism of handicrafts industry in India is
unparalleled - be it the traditional Indian arts and crafts or a
customized version of an overseas art form. Unlike in the past when the
industry was battling to carve a niche in the market, there is a great
demand for Indian handicrafts today that is being nurtured by different
government and non-governmental organizations.
The industrial revolution and the increasing productivity
had slowed down the growth and the quality of arts and crafts, but for
some decades now, the scenario has changed and machine-made products no
longer attract the people. Presently handicrafts are being considered as
vocational media and it is also opted for style statement and the
leisure pursuit. Today, the crafts and craftspeople have a vital role to
play in modern India – not just as part of its cultural and tradition,
but as part of its economic future.