Craftsmanship

The history of Indian handicrafts goes back to almost 5000 years from now. The tradition of crafts in India has grown around religious values, needs of the common people and also the needs of the ruling elites. In addition to this foreign and domestic trade have also played an important role in the evolution of different craft forms in India. The craft traditions of India have withstood the depredation of time and several foreign invasions and continue to flourish till date. It is mainly due to the open mindedness of the Indian handicraftsmen to accept and assimilate new ideas.

During the medieval period of Kushana and Mahabharata, metalworking and glass making were the main handcrafts that assimilated foreign influences and used them in accordance with the Indian setting. Moradabad and Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh are well known for their metal and glass items.

India’s rich cultural heritage and centuries of evolutionary tradition is manifested by the huge variety of handicrafts made all over the country. Handicrafts are a mirror of the cultural identity of the ethnic people who make it. The entire wealth of timeless Indian handicrafts has survived through the ages. These crafts carry the magnetic appeal of the Indian culture that promises exclusivity, beauty, dignity and style.