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
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.
Stone Sculpture
The temples and Madhis in the Himachal area are full of stone statues of
deities. The tribal areas have their own kind of statues which reflect the
religious beliefs of the tribals.
In the Googa Madhis in the villages, the Googa and his
Googadi, his horse and
soldiers are carved out in great details. Many walls display beautiful relief
work. The Shiva temple at Baijnath and the Krishna temples at Masroor are carved
out of a single rock. The temples at Chamba, Mandi, Kulu and Bilaspur areas
display feats of architectural skill by local artisans much before the
advancement of science.
The stone masons are known as 'Batai Hadai'.
Large buildings and small
articles of daily use in the houses like pounding stones, moohras, pots and
basins also display the skill of local masons amply. Many houses have statues of
lord Ganesha near the door. These and the divine animal statues in the local
temples are all carved locally. Stone masons can be found in each area and
locality in Himachal.
Wall Paintings
Wall paintings are an essential part of the art of the hilly regions. These
are painted on walls especially treated for the purpose with clay, lime and golu.
The surface of the wall is rubbed over with round stones to give it a smooth
finish. The women folk in the house are also good in the art of making
traditional drawings.
The palace at Chamba, the Akhan Chandi palace, the Laxmi Narayan temple, the
living rooms of old houses in Durga Mangnu and the palaces of Bilaspur have
beautiful wall paintings. The Kangra fort, the Narvadeshwar temple, the palaces
at Sujanpur and the temples and palaces at Vijapur and Alampur also have wall
paintings. In Kulu the tradition of decorating the palace walls with
wall-painting began during the reign of king Preetam Singh.
The wall paintings in the Sheesh Mahal show the influence of the Kangra
school. Connubial paintings (Dehre) and ornamental door hangings are examples of
this art. These are usually made in houses of the rich by women from poorer families.
Their subjects deal with traditional and mythological figures like Ganesh,
birds, flowers, vedika scenes, Kahars carrying Palanquins, the bride and the
groom, the barber and his wife ,the Shehnai players and women folk all
dressed in local finery. The wall paintings done by women on the
occasion of fasts and festivals describe the stories connected with
the occasion.
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