Thursday, March 28, 2024
Himachal Pradesh
 

The Traditional Folk Crafts

Stone and metal sculpture, drawing, carpentry, jewellery making, dyeing and printing of fabrics, spinning and weaving, making toys, shoes or dolls and tattooing are the folk crafts of Himachal Pradesh.

Bronze Sculptures

Budha

Studios in Chatarahadi, Bharmaur and Bojora have produced several beautiful bronze sculptures in the past. The statues of Ardha Vishnu are beautiful examples of the art of metal casting. Some statue forms found in the state are those of Shiva and his wife Parvati, Ganesh, Vishnu in Baikunth, Uma-Maheshwar, Mahishasur Mardini (Durga), Kartikeya and Durga as Shakti. Their shapes and postures follow the strict classical patterns. The Shimla and Nirmand areas produced good artists.

The traditional metal (brass and bronze) pots produced locally have a beautiful finish. The Mangath region in Kangra district is well-known for brass utensils. Many of these Musarabbas (brass pots for storing water), tumblers, platters and charotis (large pots used for feasts), boxes and articles used for puja, bells, stools and tables display beautifully rendered floral motifs and miniatures.