Rajasthan: Cultural Heritage, Arts &

Crafts

Cultural heritage of Rajasthan is rich and carefully nurtured and sustained over
centuries by waves of settlers ranging from Harappan civilization, Aryans, Bhils,
Jains, Jats, Gujjars, Muslims and Rajput Aristocracy. Rajasthani arts and crafts
have emerged as an essential part of people's lives. Unique in concept, colour
and workmanship, the art and handicrafts of Rajasthan are beyond comparison.
The arts, crafts, music and dances of Rajasthan are exciting and compelling.
Rajasthan dances are a spectacle of life and colour. The glittering jewellery and
attractive handicrafts of Rajasthan have caught the fantasy of the people
everywhere.

Performing Arts
Kathak
Kathak is a refined classical dance form; one of the six foremost classical dances
of India. Kathak dance form originated in the 6th - 7th century AD in northern
India. The dance was performed by temple dancers and developed today's form
from the patronage of Mughal Courts. The emphasis of the dance moved from
the religious to the aesthetic. Abhinaya (the use of mime and gesture) became
subtler, with emphasis placed on the performer's ability to express a theme in
many different ways and with infinite nuances. Later it spread to Lucknow, Raipur
and Jaipur. The Jaipur courts were the chief patrons of Kathak in Rajasthan.
Today Jaipur Gharana of Kathak that developed under the patronage of the
regional princes is one of the three major schools of Kathak.

The dance is performed to classical music and song. The footwork is matched by
the percussion instruments like tabala and pakhwaj. It has very intricate
movements of the hands and feet along with facial expressions set to complex
time cycles. The dance movements include numerous pirouettes executed at
lightning speed and ending in statuesque pose

Folk Arts
Ghair

Ghair is originally a Bhil dance performed during Holi festivals. Variations of the
dance are performed in Mewar, Jodhpur and Sekhawati. The dance is performed
by both men and women. The performers move in circle, first in clockwise and
then anticlockwise direction. They carry sticks and strikes them rhythmically. The
Ghair of Mewar has inner and outer circles of performers. The dancers of
Jodhpur wear martial costumes. The male dancers use sticks or swords.

Kucchi Ghodi

Kucchi Ghodi or dummy horse dance is performed to entertain the visiting

bridegroom's party. The costumes are so designed to resemble riding a horse. It
is a vigorous dance that engages agile sidestepping and dancing to music if fifes
and drums. A ballad singer narrates the stories of local heroes. The dance
comes from the dacoit regions of Shekhawati.

Terahtaali

Terahtaali is a devotional dance performed by women of Kamad community in

honor of folk hero Baba Ramdeo. The women squat on the floor with 'manjeeras'
(cymbals) tied to various parts of their bodies like wrists, elbows and waists. In a
whirl of constant and frenzied motion they strike the cymbals with those they
have in hands. For added tempo the also balance pots on their heads or swords
on their mouths.

Kalbelia

It is a dance of the women of the Kalbelia snake charmer community. The

women wearing black skirts with silver embroidery dance to the folk songs, as if
invoked, reminding the graceful movements of the snake. They sway sensually to
a sonorous chant, which increases in tempo and vigour with the increase of the
beat and leave the dancer and the spectator exhausted and happy in the end.

Fire Dance

The Jasnaiths of Bikaner and Churu perform this devotional dance. The dance is
performed on a bed of burning coal, bare footed, to the rhythmic beat of a drum.
The pace of the dance increases to the tune of drumbeat until the dancer attains
a near hypnotic trans. The dance is performed during the winter nights and the
dancer never develops even a blister on his foot.

Drum Dance

Drum dance is a war dance performed by men from Jalore. Men with huge drums
hung in their necks and cymbals in their hands, provide musical accompaniment
for the dance. The dancer holding a bare sword on his mouth juggles three
coloured sticks or swords. The pace of the drum beats are raised and the dancer
performs to the beat keeping his graceful movements. This is a favourite dance
of the martial races.

Ghoomar

Originally from Jodhpur, Goomar is a characteristic dance of the Bhils. The

women in groups perform the dance during Rajput weddings and it is out of
bounds for men. Dressed in richly embroidered skirts, veiled and bejewelled, the
women moves slowly and gracefully in circles singing songs of love, devotion
and celebration.

Bhavai

Bhavai is a graceful dance form presented by veiled women balancing seven to

nine brass pots on their heads and dancing with agility. They often dance on
crushed glass beds and the lead performer perches on the edge of a sword to
sway gracefully with hand movements, raising the tempo and making the
spectator awestruck.

Crafts
Jewellary

Rajasthan, being an important source of precious and semi precious stones, is

famous for its jewellery industry. Skillful artisans from Lahore, Delhi, Gujarat, and
Bengal, attracted by the liberal patronage of the kings, came to work in Jaipur,
Bikaner, Udaipur and Jodhpur. Semi-precious and precious stones come to
Jaipur for cutting and polishing. Jaipur is a major center for enamel work on gold,
also known as kundan. The temple market at Nathdwara is the best place to buy
silver kundan and meenakari work.

Metalware

The metalware of Rajasthan comprises artistic brass work, enameled, engraved

and filigree cut work on silver. Varieties of lacquered and engraved brassware
articles are available for one to chose from. Traditional designs and techniques
are used and the motifs are of flowers, hunting scenes and landscapes.
Traditional silver articles like 'handas' or water containers, spice bottles, baskets
and trays are popular. 'Koftagari' is practised in Alwar and Jaipur where one
metal is encrusted into another in the form of wire. Popular articles are swords,
daggers and shields.

Gesso Work

One of the finest crafts to emerge from Bikaner uses the inner hide of the camel.
The hide is scraped till it reaches the consistency of paper and becomes
translucent. This is then molded into lampshades, frames to hip flask, perfume
phials or vases. These are painted over with fine gesso work using gold to lend
richness to the otherwise bright reds and greens used in the work.

Pottery
 Pottery, one of the old crafts, has its own unique tradition in Rajasthan. Blue
Pottery of Jaipur is unique in appearance. The art of glazed pottery came to India
through Persia. The best pieces are hand painted with conventional floral or
arabesque patterns and sometimes with figures of animals. Besides traditional
articles items such as ashtrays, tiles, flower pots, lamp stands, mugs, door knobs
etc., are also produced.

Alwar is famous for its double cutwork pottery known as 'kagzi' made skillfully
with a thin layer of clay. Purely decorative, the pottery of Bikaner uses lac colours
embellished with gold to give a glittering finish.

Stone Carving

Rajasthan is famous for its splendid architectural monuments made of stone.

Temples, forts and palaces are glorious achievements of the craftsmen that have
few rivals. Jaipur is the centre of marble carving in Rajasthan. Artisans create
marble images of the deities as well as domestic utensils from marble. befitting
examples of fine lattice works of stone can be seen in every palace in Rajasthan.

Block Printing

Sanganer and Bagru, near Jaipur, are the name synonymous today with the
finest block printed cottons. Some of the Sanganeri chipas have moved to
Jaipur and their colourful printed creations are widely available. Block printing is
a finely developed art in other parts of Rajasthan too. While the Bagru prints are
famous for floral designs in dark vegetable colours, the Barmer prints are known
for their bold geometric patterns, called 'Ajrakh'. A special process of tie-and dye
creates the stylized wave pattern or laharia symbolizing water or the monsoon
rain. Turbans and odhnis with laharia patterns are generally used on festive
occasions, especially Teej.

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 Rajasthan: Tags
Rajasthan
Culture
Hotels
Places to See I
Places to See II
Places to See III
Places to See IV
Festivals
Travel Info.

The Rich Culture of Odisha

(Orissa)
Posted On : July 11, 2016
Considering that India is an amalgamation of cultures, it is almost as if it is a
number of countries thrown together. Every 200 kilometres or so, you will find an
entirely new place, unique with its own people, geography, climate, food, music,
dress, customs and traditions. Here, we explore a bit of Odisha, a magically
traditional and incredible state of India that comes alive with its rich cultural
heritage.
Due to the reigns of many different rulers in the past the culture, arts and crafts of
the state of Orissa evolved over time. The diversity of the cultural and social
background of the people of Orissa made it the bastion of rich cultural heritage
with its historical monuments, archaeological sites, traditional arts, sculpture,
dance and music. From the time immemorial Odisha has attracted a large
number of scholars, artists and tourists.
Architecture

Orissa is a land of temples. The concentration of the largest number of temples

all over the state has made it a centre of unique attraction for the scholars and
tourists.
The Orissan Temple Architecture holds an appeal that is magnetic and almost
stupefying in its extravagance and mobility. Exquisitely carved base-reliefs with
their numerous halls and the heavily sculptured towers are landmarks of this
magnificient architrcture. The splendid ruins of Konark, the highly sanctified
environs of Jagannath and Lingaraj temples are the symbols of Orissas cultural
heritage that remain an eye-opener even today.

Arts
The artistic skill of the Oriya artists is quite unsurpassable in the world. The
murals, cloth and palm leaf paintings of Orissa are as old as its magnificent
architecture and sculpture. The Chitrakars or artists were patronised by feudal
landlords and kings, leaving them free to scale new heights in creativity in all
fields of visual arts.
The three main categories of Oriya painting, the Bhitichitra or the murals, the
Patachitra or the cloth painting and the Pothichitra or the palm leaf engraving
have remained more or less the same in style, down the ages.
Music and Dance
The existing musical tradition of Orissa is the cumulative experience of the last
2500 years. Music owes its existence to the cultural traditions that grew around
the temples. Even in modern times, the traditional songs and dances of the state
have lost not their importance.
Odissi, the traditional classical dance form of Orissa originated in the Devadasi
cult, wherein young women were married to gods and remained in the service of
the temple, worshipping their lord and master through this lyrical form of dance.
This subtle dance form epitomises Indian femininity at its most sensuous.
Independence brought a major change in official attitudes toward Indian Dance.
Like the other classical arts, dance was seen as a way to define Indias national
identity. Governmental and non-governmental patronage increased. The
government came to realize the role of cultural heritage in creating a national
identity. A number of people and experts took initiatives for the reconstruction
and popularization of Odissi dance.
There are a number of characteristics of the Odissi dance. The themes of Odissi
are almost exclusively religious in nature. They most commonly revolve around
Krishna. Although the worship of Krishna is found throughout India, there are
local themes which are emphasised. The Ashtapadis of Jayadev are a very
common theme.
The musical accompaniment of Odissi dance is essentially the same as the
music of Odissa itself. There are a number of musical instruments used to
accompany the Odissi dance. One of the most important is the pakhawaj, also
known as the madal. This is the same pakhawaj that is used elsewhere in the
north except for a few small changes. One difference is that the right head is a
bit smaller than the usual north Indian pakhawaj. This necessitates a technique
which in many ways is more like that of the tabla, or mridangam. Other
instruments which are commonly used are the bansuri (bamboo flute),
the manjira (metal cymbals), thesitar and the tanpura.
A land of rich and diverse artistic achievements, Odishas art and culture are the
products of a long historical process in which the spiritual, philosophical and the
humane dimensions have merged to yield the finest effects of cultured civilised
life.

Revathy Venkatraman