Antique Jewellery Box My Dida (maternal grandmother) had an antique box inside which she used to keep all her personal belongings. It was a four-cornered storage box kept on the shelf inside her wooden almirah. Dida was married off at Read More …
The Journey It was a hot summer morning in the month of May. We set out in a rented car from Cuttack towards a village called ‘Maniabandha’ in the Athagarh district. It was one and a half hour journey from Read More …
Tussar (also Tasar or Kosa) silk is generated by the silkworm belonging to the moth genus Antheraea, which mainly thrive on the food plants Asan and Arjun, and not on Mulberry. The rearings are conducted in nature on the trees in Read More …
Home of Odisha Ikat – Maniabandha, Nuapatna It was a hot summer morning in the month of May. We set out in a rented car from Cuttack towards a village called ‘Maniabandha’ in the Athagarh district. It was a one Read More …
Weaving away dreams with silver wire I was visiting my home town of Cuttack, Odisha during Diwali after 24 long years. Diwali is more popularly celebrated as Kali Puja in Odisha and other eastern states of India. During my childhood Read More …
Risen from the earth, a manifestation of man’s proximity to and dependence on nature – the Terracotta (literally ‘baked earth’) workmanship is inherent to the red soil region of Bishnupur in the Bankura District of West Bengal. The political importance Read More …
A Canvas from the Past In a country as ancient as ours, a culture enriched with traditional arts and crafts, unchanged over the centuries, coexisting with twenty-first century technology is hardly surprising. Amidst this cultural confluence, there are some crafts Read More …
Baluchari sarees feature beautifully hand-woven mythological figures and stories on silk, which make them unique and distinctive. Since the weaving community mainly resides in Bishnupur area of West Bengal, they are also known as Bishnupuri sarees. The history of this Read More …
The first Baluchari I saw and possessed was a gift for Durga Puja, a colourful celebration when traditionally new clothes are worn. It was love at first sight! An ethereal creation of sublime beauty, reflecting a precious tradition of Bengal Read More …