Context: China’s Ambassador to India posted about the historic Tea Horse Road which spanned more than 2,000 km, and connected China to India via Tibet.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Tea Horse Road.
Tea Horse Road/ Ancient Chama Road
Origin: It can be traced back to the 618-907 CE during the rule of Tang Dynasty.
Route: It was not a single road, but a network of paths that started from Southwest China and ended in the Indian Subcontinent.
The main pathways passed through Chinese cities like Lijiang in Yunnan Province and Chengdu in Sichuan Province.
Then it reached Lhasa in Tibet, from where it branched into India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Though it is not known as the Silk Road (China- Europe), the Tea horse road was a crucial commercial trade route for centuries.
Significance of the route in Trade
As per the writings of Buddhist Monk and traveler I-Tsing/ Yijing (635-713 CE):
From China to India: Products like Sugar, Textiles and Rice Noodles were transported from Southwestern China to Tibet and India.
From India to China: Horses, leather, Tibetan Gold, Saffron and medicine herbs.
From the times of Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) trade mainly focused on Tea from China and Horses from India.
By 1912, the route gained significance as it became a toolfor bringing new techniques and goods to the less developed mountainous regions of Yunnan (China)which helped in expanding the tea industry rapidly.
During World War II, Japan gained control over the entire Chinese coastline and airspace. The road became crucial for transporting supplies to the frontline battlefield in China.
Decline in significance: With establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the road witnessed decline in significance. This happened mainly because of Mao Zedong’s land reforms, after which porters mostly stopped the backbreaking work of carrying the loads.
Contemporary significance: China has promoted tourism along the historic path and Lijiang became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.
Context: Preparations are in full swing at Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium for the 'Jhumoir Binandini' event which will be attended by the Prime Minister on 24 February, 2025. More than 8,000 artists from tea garden areas across Assam are set to perform the traditional Jhumoir dance.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Jhumoir dance.
About Jhumoir/Jhumar Dance
It is a traditional dance performed in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar and West Bengal.
In Jharkhand and surrounding areas, it is mostly performed by both the Indo-Aryan groups of Chotanagpur region and tribal groups during the harvest season.
Musical instruments used are Mandar, Dhol, Nagara, Bansuri (flute).
The dance style consists of performers standing in a row holding hands, singing couplets, swaying their bodies, clapping their hands and occasionally adding timed jumps.
Assam’s case
In Assam Tea tribes are the main performers of this dance form. Jhumoir Binandini or Jhumar Nandini is an event that will commemorate 200 years of the tea sector in Assam.
The dance is usually performed in groups, most of which are made up of women, who dance to the rhythms of traditional instruments like flute, cymbals and dhol.
The dancers move in circular patterns, with coordinated footwork and hand gestures that depict various aspects of daily life, nature and folklore.
Traditional attire includes bright red & white sarees and dhoti with jewellery for women and white kurta-dhoti for men.
Context: There has been a controversy due to the development plan at Parasnath Hill leading to a tripartite dispute between the state government, Jain community and Santhal tribal group.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Parasnath’s Marang Buru; Jainism.
About Parasnath’s Marang Buru
Parasnath Hill is the highest peak in Jharkhand (1,365 meters). It is named after Lord Parshvanatha, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara.
It is located towards the eastern-end of Chota Nagpur Plateau.
It falls within the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary and is part of the Madhuban Forest Area.
Significance in Jainism:
It is known as Sammed Shikharji, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Jains.
According to Jain beliefs, 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers) attained Moksha (liberation) here.
Marang Baru:
The Santhal tribe considers the hill as Marang Buru, their Supreme Deity and Chief God.
The site is an important place of worship for tribals, where they perform traditional rituals and celebrations during the Sohrai festival.
Disputes regarding the location
Religious conflict between Jain community and Santhal tribals on developing location as pilgrimage site.
Opposition to Tourism and commercialisation of the location, as the Jain community consider it as sacred.
Declaration of eco-sensitive zones by the government neglects the traditional rights of the Santhal tribal communities.
Context: In the latest step toward eliminating colonial practices and mindsets within the armed forces, Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Fort William; Vijay Durg.
Major Highlights:
The new name, Vijay Durg, is derived from the oldest fort along the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra. It served as a naval base for the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Additionally, Kitchener House inside Fort William has been renamed Manekshaw House, and South Gate, formerly known as St. George’s Gate is now Shivaji Gate.
About Fort William
Location: Itis situated on the banks of Hooghly River, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Built: The fort was completed between 1696-1702, by the British East India Company.
Construction work started under the supervision of John Goldsborough.
It was named after King William III of England.
The fort was built twice:
Old fort building:
Built in 1696 CE. The permission to build the fort at this location was granted by Mughal EmperorAurangzeb.
It was associated with the infamous ‘Black hole tragedy’(1756). In 1756 the then Nawab of Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah, took over the fort and the city by conquering the British East India Company.
He named the city Alinagar after his grandfather Aliwardi Khan.
New Fort Building:
Robert Clive along with Admiral Charles Watson took the fort back in 1757. Siraj Ud Daulah was defeated and killed in the Battle of Plassey (1757) and Bengal came entirely under the control of the British East India Company.
The foundation to rebuild the fort was laid in 1758 by Robert Clive (the first British Governor of Bengal).
The fort also remained as a centre for Indian Ordinance factories since 1775.
At present Fort William is the property of the Indian Army and is the headquarters of Eastern Army Command. It has provisions for accommodating 10,000 army personnel.
Vijaydurg Fort, Maharashtra
It is situated in the Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra.
This fort was built in the 12th century and was conquered by Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 17th century.
It is the oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast, constructed during the regime of Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahar dynasty (construction period 1193-1205).
The fort was earlier known as “Gheria”, as it is situated close to the village of “Girye”.
Shivaji captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1653 and renamed it as “Vijay Durg”.
Vijaydurg Fort was called the “Eastern Gibraltar”, as it was virtually impregnable.
It served as a naval base for the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Context: The Union Budget 2025-26 announced a special mission for the survey, documentation, and conservation of India’s manuscript heritage, launched as the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’.
Gyan Bharatam Mission
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture
Objective: To focus on the survey, documentation and conservation of India’s manuscript heritage.
Coverage: To cover more than one crore manuscripts held by academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collectors.
A National Digital Repository of Indian knowledge systems for knowledge sharing will be set up.
The mission will be executed under National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), which was launched in 2003.
Budget allocation for the NMM has been increased from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore.
National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM)
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture
Establishment: 2003.
The Mission has the mandate of identifying, documenting, conserving and making accessible the manuscript heritage of India.
Objectives:
Locate manuscripts through national level Survey and Post-Survey.
Document each and every manuscript and manuscript repository, for a National Electronic Database.
Conserve manuscripts incorporating both modern and indigenous methods of conservation and training a new generation of manuscript conservators.
To train the next generation of scholars in various aspects of Manuscript Studies.
To promote access to manuscriptsby digitizing the rarest and most endangered manuscripts.
To promote access to manuscripts through publication of critical editions of unpublished manuscripts and catalogues.
To facilitate the public's engagement with manuscripts through lectures, seminars, publications and other outreach programmes.
The National Mission for Manuscripts presently functions as a unit under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
The NMM uses technology for preservation and digitization of manuscripts.
Methodologies for preservation: Lamination, restoration, and deacidification of manuscripts.
Challenges before the Mission:
Manuscript wealth of India is estimated at around ten million manuscripts and is perhaps the largest collection in the world. Manuscripts are found in a vast number of languages and scripts many of which can no longer be read.
Manuscripts are found in different kinds of repositories - ranging from museums, institutions of learning to private homes and houses of worship, big and small.
Manuscripts are often found to have been neglected for decades and in very poor physical state - insect ridden, fungus infected or brittle, fading and fragile.
Scholars who can study and use manuscripts are fast disappearing and a new generation of scholars is not able to rise to the challenge.
Often, the knowledge in manuscripts is not seen as relevant to our times, thus neglected.
Manuscript
A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, cloth, metal, palm leaf or any other material dating back at least seventy-five years that has significant scientific, historical or aesthetic value.
These writings deal with a wide range of subjects like Veda, Vedanta, Darshan, Ayurveda, Aesthetic, Astronomy, Astrology, Yoga, Vaastu, Mathematics, Linguistics etc.
Lithographs (drawing on a flat surface i.e. stone/metal and then transferring the image to paper) and printed volumes are not manuscripts.
Manuscripts are found in hundreds of different languages and scripts.
70% of manuscripts are in the Sanskrit language.
Other 30% of manuscripts are in languages like Assamese, Bengali, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Meithei /Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Newari/ Nepal Bhasa, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Chakma etc.
Manuscripts are distinct from historical records such as epigraphs on rocks, firmans, revenue records which provide direct information on events or processes in history. Manuscripts have knowledge content.
Context: India and China have decided to resume the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra in June 2025. Since 2020, the yatra was suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic and following military stand-off along the LAC, including the Galwan incident. Resuming the yatra is considered a significant step in improving relations between the two nations.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Kailash Mansarovar Yatra; Mount Kailash.
About Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
The yatra includes visits to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet.
The Ministry of External Affairs, India organises the Yatra during June to September through two different routes:
Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand)
Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).
It is open to eligible Indian citizens holding valid Indian passports.
The Yatra is organised with the support from state governments of Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Sikkim; and cooperation of Indo Tibetan Border Police.
MEA does not provide any subsidy or financial assistance to Yatris.
Location
Mount Kailash is located in the Kailash Range (forms part of the Transhimalaya) in Tibet.
Lake Manasarovar is a high altitude freshwater lake near Mount Kailash in Tibet.
Four rivers emerge from the Kailash-Mansaorovar region: Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Indus and Kamali (Karnali).
Religious Significance
Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva. Mansarovar lake is said to be one of Goddess Sati’s 51 Shaktipeeths.
Tibetans, Buddhists and Jains revere it as the ‘Stairway to heaven’.
Jains hold that Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankar (Jains’ spiritual preacher), found enlightenment at Mount Kailash.
The Mount is referred to in Jain literature as “Ashtapada,” or “the eight steps,” which can pave the way to enlightenment and spiritual advancement.
Context: A scene from the trailer of the upcoming Bollywood film Chhava, based on the life of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has led to controversy in Maharashtra. In the scene actor who portrays the king, is seen performing the Lezim (also spelt lazium) folk dance.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Lezium Folk Dance.
Lezim / Lazium / Lezium Folk Dance
State: Maharashtra
Musical instrument: Lezim, a unique wooden stick, with jingling cymbals attached to it that the dancers carry while performing the dance.
Dholki, a drum instrument, is used as the main percussion music in the performance.
Performance:
During the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Lezim was a sport played by men to build their muscles.
Some of the community preserved this sport and started performing it as a dance performance. It is mainly performed during the Ganesha festival i.e., Ganesh Chaturthi.
In the present time, it has become part of physical education drills in schools and colleges in the state.
Costume: The dancers wear a traditional costume which consists of a white kurta, pajama and a colorful belt with a colourful turban.
Variations of Lezim Dance (Seldom used today)
Reedh & Dhanusyasarakhi: A 2.5 feet long bamboo pole, called the Reedh was used which was connected with an iron chain called Dhanusyasarakhi. The primary purpose of using this heavy prop was to exercise and make the body strong.
Koyande: A 15-18 inches long wooden pole was used. The pole was hollow from the inside. The hollow part was used to connect a one kg iron chain to the bar by running it through from one end to another. Another 6 inches long chain was connected to the pole called Salaisakhali.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj
He was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, ruling from 1681 to 1689.
He came to power following a bloody succession battle with his half-brother Rajaram in 1681.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was a contemporary.
His rule was largely shaped by the wars between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire, as well as other neighbouring powers such as the Abyssinians of Janjira, Wadiyars of Mysore and the Portuguese Empire in Goa.
Sambhaji and 25 of his advisors were captured by the Mughal forces of Muqarrab Khan in a skirmish at Sangameshwar (Ratnagiri District) in 1689.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji and his minister Kavi Kalash were brought to Tulapur (Pune district), where they were tortured and executed under the orders of Aurangzeb.
Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has made significant discoveries during ongoing excavations at the historic Ratnagiri Buddhist site in Jajpur district, Odisha.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Ratnagiri Buddhist site.
Major Highlights:
ASI’s ongoing excavations at the 5th-13th Century Buddhist complex in Ratnagiri have uncovered many ancient Buddhist artefacts, including:
Buddhist monastery complex (the monastery dates back to 8th CE).
Hundreds of votive stupas
Colossal Buddha head and sculptural fragments of Buddhist deities, a massive palm.
The Buddha head was 3-4 feet tall and the palm was 5 feet.
Inscribed stones, pottery, beads, stone pillars
An ancient brick wall believed to be part of a larger structure.
Monolithic elephant measuring 5 feet in length and 3.5 feet in height.
Significance:
The findings enhance Ratnagiri's 1,200-year legacy and solidifies its status as a cornerstone of Buddhist heritage in Odisha. The site experts believe that Ratnagiri rivaled Nalanda as a centre of Buddhist learning.
The current excavation will greatly enhance understanding of the evolution of Buddhism in Odisha and its connections with Southeast Asia.
Ratnagiri Buddhist Site
Ratnagiri (meaning hill of jewels) is the site of a ruined mahavihara (once the major Buddhist monastery) in Odisha.
Location:
It is located on a hill between the Brahmani and Birupa rivers in Jajpur district.
It is close to other Buddhist sites in the area, including Lalitagiri (oldest Buddhist monastery in Odisha) and Udayagiri.
Ratnagiri is a part of the famous Diamond Triangle of Odisha along with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri.
Developed under the patronage of the Bhauma kara dynasty, the site flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre from the 8th to the 11th centuries CE.
Buddhist monuments were constructed from the 5th century CE onwards, with the last work in the 13th century. The peak period is dated between about 7th to 10th CE.
Ratnagiri began to decline in the 13th century CE due to invasions by Muslim rulers. Although some activity at the site persisted until the 16th century CE.
Key fact: Buddha sculptures discovered in Ratnagiri feature intricate and distinctive hairstyles, not found elsewhere in India.
Odisha & Buddhism
Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (304-232 BCE) invaded the kingdom of Kalinga (ancient name for Odisha) in 261 BC, which led him to embrace Buddhism. He helped in spreading the religion to Sri Lanka, and Central and Southeast Asia.
Even though there was no evidence of Buddha visiting Odisha during his lifetime, Kalinga played a great role in popularising Buddhism especially in Southeast Asia, because of its trade link with the region.
Tapassu and Bhallika, the two merchant brothers who became the first disciples of Lord Buddha, have their origins from Utkala (another ancient name of Odisha).
Odisha has long enjoyed maritime and trade links with Southeast Asian countries.
Pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, silk, camphor, gold, and jewellery were popular items of trade between the ancient kingdom of Kalinga and Southeast Asia.
Odisha annually holds Baliyatra, literally ‘voyage to Bali’. It is a seven-day festival to commemorate the 2,000-year-old maritime and cultural links between Kalinga and Bali and other South and Southeast Asian regions such as Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Studies suggest renowned Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller- Hiuen Tsang who visited Odisha (during 638-639 AD) might have visited Ratnagiri.
In Odisha, Buddhism is stated to have particularly flourished under the Bhaumakara dynasty, which ruled parts of the state in between the 8th and 10th Century.
Context: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has decided to exclude Kalaripayattu from the ‘competition section’ of the 38th edition of the National Games.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Questions based on art and culture; National Games and Indian Olympic Association.
About Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest martial arts in the world, originating over 3,000 years ago in the state of Kerala, India, during the 11th–12th century CE.
It is a combination of physical agility, weapon training, self-defence and spiritual discipline.
Terms associated:
Meythari: Body control and posturing resembling animals like lions, snakes and peacocks.
Kolthari: Wooden weapon like stick
Ankathari: Metal weapons like sword and shield.
Verum Kai: Bare-hand combat.
It was included as a demonstrative sport in 2015 National games i.e., 35th edition of National Games.
In the 37th edition of the National Games, held in Goa in 2023, Kalaripayattu was part of the competition section.
In the 38th edition of National Games, the sport has been demoted to the ‘demonstration section’ from the competition section.
National games:
The National Games of India is a multi-sport event that is held to promote India and bring together various athletes from various states.
Indian Olympic Association is the primary organising body for the national games.
The 38th edition of National Games in 2025 will be hosted by Uttarakhand, set to begin from January 28, 2025.
Context: Makaravilakku was celebrated at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, coinciding with Makara Sankranti on 14th January 2025.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Makaravilakku Festival; Sabarimala Temple.
About Makaravilakku Festival
Makaravilakku is an annual festival held in Kerala at the Sabarimala temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
The festival marks the culmination of a rigorous 41-day pilgrimage (which begins in mid-November and ends on Makara Sankranti) to honor Lord Ayyappa.
On this day, Lord Ayyappa is believed to have manifested in the form of a divine light, marking the arrival of prosperity and happiness.
Rituals:
41-Day Pilgrimage (Vratham):
Devotees who wish to participate in the Makaravilakku festival must observe a 41-day vratham which has strict conduct like celibacy, fasting, and wearing black or saffron clothing.
The pilgrimage represents a period of self-purification, discipline, and devotion.
Makara Jyothi (divine light):
Makaravilakku or Makara Jyothi is one of the central elements of the festival.
It is believed to be the divine light (symbolic presence) of Lord Ayyappa, and it appears at a specific spot near the temple in the evening.
Grand Thiruvabharanam procession:
On Makaravilakku day, the sacred Thiruvabharanam, the royal ornaments of Lord Ayyappa are carried by a procession that moves from the Pandalam Palace to the Sabarimala temple, accompanied by chanting and music.
About Sabarimala Temple
Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Ayyappan, also known as Dharma Shasta.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ayyappa is the son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu (Vishnu in his incarnation as Mohini).
It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, with an estimate of over 10 to 15 million devotees visiting every year.
The temple practices prohibit the women between the ages of 10 and 50 years from accessing the temple premises.
In 2018, the Supreme Court of India invalidated the prohibition on female entry inside the temple.
Geographical location:
Location: Sabarimala hill, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.
The temple is surrounded by 18 hills in the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The temple is located on the banks of the river Pamba.
Pamba River (Pampa River/ Dakshina Bhageerathi) is one of the longest river in Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha.
During ancient times, it was called 'River Baris'.
Context: The state government of West Bengal announced new initiatives to attract pilgrims to Gangasagar Mela.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about the Gangasagar Mela.
Major Highlights:
The slew of initiatives announced by the state government include:
participation certificate for pilgrims participating in the annual pilgrimage.
e-Anushandhan (pilgrims can access facilities at the mela ground)
e-Parichay (QR code-enabled identity band) to prevent missing people in the mela crowd.
The state government has been pushing for a “national mela” status for the Gangasagar Mela for several years.
About Gangasagar Mela
Gangasagar Mela (Gangasagar Yatra) It is an annual religious festival held on Sagar Island in the state of West Bengal.
It is held at the confluence of the Ganga with the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal.
Travelling a distance of approximately 2,525 km from Gangotri (the originating place), Ganga ends her journey in Sagar Island where it merges with Bay of Bengal.
The festival typically starts a few days before Makar Sankranti and concludes shortly after.
Makar Sankranti is a highly auspicious occasion in Hinduism, marked by the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara Rashi).
Rituals:
Devotees participate in rituals such as taking a holy dip in the Ganga, offering "Arghya" (water) to the Sun God and performing "Deepdan" (lighting lamps), seeking liberation (moksha) and spiritual upliftment.
It is considered the second-largest religious gathering in India, following the Kumbh Mela.
Religious significance: It is believed that a dip in the Ganga at Sagar Island during this auspicious time is equivalent to the merit of performing 100 Ashwamedha Yagnas (a grand Vedic ritual).
Historical mention of the Fair
Gangasagar is mentioned in the Mahabharata's Vana Parva, which provides proof of the existence of the pilgrimage site in 1500–2000 BC.
According to the Mahabharata, Kapilmuni - the progenitor of Samkhya philosophy, had an ashram at Gangasagara.
Gangasagar pilgrimage is also mentioned in Raghuvaṃśa, a Sanskrit epic poem written by the great poet Kalidasa in the fifth century AD.
King Devapala of the Pala dynasty mentions in an inscription that he performed rituals at the confluence of the Gangasagar.
Context: Indian President’s invitation box for “At home” reception during Republic Day will include handicraft items from South India.
Relevance of the topic:
Prelims:GS-1 (Handicraft based questions)
Mains: GS-3 (Analytical question on scope, issues and suggestions for handicraft sector in India)
Major Highlights:
Every year the President of India hosts an ‘At Home’ reception on the eve of Republic Day at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Unlike traditional invitation card this year invitation includes a bamboo box along with various handicraft items which are GI tagged (Geographical Indicators) from various South Indian states:
Box decorated by Kalamkari Art of Andhra Pradesh
Pochampally Ikat from Telangana
Ganjifa Art from Mysore
Kanjivaram cloth pouch from Tamil Nadu
Etikoppaka dolls from Andhra Pradesh.
Facts about mentioned Handicrafts:
1. Kalamkari Art (Andhra Pradesh):
Kalamkari is a traditional Indian art form involving hand-painting or block-printing on fabric, often cotton or silk.
Originating in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, its name combines "kalam" (pen) and "kari" (work). Intricate designs depict mythology, nature, and folk tales, using natural dyes for vibrant, eco-friendly colors.
2. Pochampally Ikat (Telangana):
Pochampally Ikat is a traditional handwoven textile from Telangana, India, known for its geometric patterns and vibrant colors. Artisans use a unique tie-and-dye technique on threads before weaving.
Renowned for its precision and craftsmanship, Pochampally Ikat represents India’s rich heritage and is often crafted into sarees, dupattas, and home décor items.
3. Ganjifa art (Mysore):
Ganjifa art is a traditional Indian craft involving hand-painted playing cards, popular during the Mughal and Deccan eras.
Made from cloth or paper, the cards feature intricate designs depicting mythology, flora, and geometric patterns.
Often circular or rectangular, Ganjifa cards are painted with natural pigments, showcasing India's rich artistic heritage.
4. Kanjivaram (Tamil Nadu):
Kanjivaram, or Kanchipuram silk, is a luxurious handwoven silk fabric from Tamil Nadu, India.
Renowned for its vibrant colors, intricate zari work, and durability, it is often used for traditional sarees.
Crafted with pure mulberry silk and gold or silver threads, Kanjivaram symbolises elegance and is treasured for weddings and festive occasions.
5. Etikoppaka dolls (Andhra Pradesh):
Etikoppaka dolls are traditional wooden toys crafted in Etikoppaka, a village in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Made from softwood called "Ankudu," these eco-friendly toys are hand-carved and coated with natural, lacquer-based dyes.
Known for their vibrant colors and smooth finish, Etikoppaka dolls showcase India's artisanal heritage and sustainable craftsmanship.
Scope for Indian Handicrafts:
High global demands: Indian handicraft items are unique in their build, history and decorations, making them highly demanded in the global markets E.g., Madhubani print paintings and Jaipur’s blue pottery.
Expansion of e-commerce: Online websites like Amazon are providing a marketplace for these handicrafts by facilitating both artisans and customers.
Tourism extension: Indian Tourism industry is seeking expansion with the rise in UNESCO heritage sites. These arts are promoted as tourism extensions.
Government schemes: Schemes like ‘One District One Product’ are promoting local handicrafts in both India and abroad. E.g.; Channapatna toys under ODOP receive government support.
Sustainability demand: The world is focusing on reducing solid waste and promoting biodegradable goods. Indian Handicrafts like Bamboo craft from Assam and Etikoppaka toys.
Challenges to Handicrafts in India:
Limited market integration: Local Artisans often fail to find an adequate marketplace for their goods. E.g., Traditional Bidriware artisans often rely on local markets, reducing profitability.
Competition from machine made clothes: Handicraft items like Kanjivaram and Pochampally Ikat face price competition from bulk made products from machines. Also, cheaper goods made of artificial fiber compete with handicraft goods.
Reducing artisans: Artisans are changing their professions due to low profitability of handicrafts creating a void in training of new artisans in the family. E.g., Gujarati Rogan art families are migrating to other professions.
Dependence on middleman: Artisans depend on the middle man due to the unregulated and fragmented market of goods making profession less attractive. E.g., Channapatna toy makers often receive a fraction of the retail price.
Environmental impact on the raw material of goods impacts the future of arts in a negative manner. E.g., Sandalwood used in many handicraft goods is facing the wrath of climate change.
Suggestions to boost handicrafts:
Fashion integration: The handicrafts need to be integrated with the fashion industry with help of NIFT centers. E.g., Banarasi silk sarees and Phulkari embroidery in designer collections.
Common market place: There should be a free of cost common market place for the traditional goods and handicrafts to facilitate artisans. E.g., Dilli Haat for regular showcasing of crafts such as Pashmina shawls and Madhubani paintings.
Promoting traditional learning with schemes like USTAAD to foster a new generation of artisans.
Branding and certification: Handicraft goods to be provided with branding of Geographical Indications to promote their value and artisans profitability.
Conclusion: Indian handicrafts embody cultural heritage and economic potential. Addressing challenges with financial aid, e-commerce, branding, and awareness can preserve traditions, empower artisans, and expand global recognition.
