There are multiple reasons to travel to Gujarat, one of the major motivations for a tourist to travel to this colorful state is the unique art and craft that exists in Gujarat. Gujarat holiday packages conducted by Swan Tours incorporates various destinations and the experiences related to art and Craft in the itinerary.
Gujarat’s deep-rooted tradition of textiles and handicrafts makes shopping in this state an exciting and rewarding experience. The range of handicrafts is diverse, from ritualistic arts, tribal artifacts and vibrant folk crafts to sophisticated metalware, rich silks and kundan jewellery.
The superb heritage of handicrafts goes back thousands of years. Agate stone cutting is said to be an ancient craft of Khambat. Archaeological excavations have shown that metallurgy, pottery, seal cutting, jewellery making and bead crafting reached high standards of maturity at Harappan sites of Gujarat more than 4000 years ago. Fine examples of these crafts have stood the test of time at Lothal.
The handicraft repertoire of Guajrat has been enriched by centuries of contacts with different lands. The ports of Gujarat facilitated trade with the Middle-east, the African ports, South East Asia and China since ancient times. The Portuguese, the Dutch and the British established trading bases along the Gujarat coast in the medieval period. From the Mughal courts to the British East India Company, the Parsees who landed in Gujarat fleeing religious persecution more than a millennium ago to the post-partition exodus from Sindh to Kutch , various cultural influences have left their mark on the range and quality of crafts for which Gujarat is justly famous. Today, the state is known for its intricate handloom woven cotton, wool and silk textiles, traditional durries and shawls, bandhani tie-dye fabrics, textile and leather embroidery, block prints, appliqué, beadwork, jewellery, metal crafts, woodcarving, lacquered woodcrafts, terracotta crafts, bamboo products, agate stonework, namda (felt-making), ritualistic paintings and other handmade products. NGOs, self-help groups and social responsibility initiatives of corporate houses have helped bring many lesser known and remotely located artisans into the spotlight of tourism in Gujarat.
The Bandhani (a form of tie-dye) is one of Gujarat’s most famous textiles, with the ‘panetar’ and ‘gharcholu’ tie-dyed patterns often considered symbolic of the state. Garments made from tie-dyed fabrics are worn by Gujarat’s brides for important rituals and marriage. The artisans of Jamnagar, Kutch, Surendranagar and other districts of Gujarat are well-known for their wool, cotton and silk tie-dye.
Embroidery is one of Gujarat’s most popular handicrafts. The girls and young women start doing embroidery at a young age to supplement family income, embellish personal clothing and family linen, or to ornament their own trousseau. One of the most striking and popular features of Gujarat’s embroidery has been the use of mirrors secured onto the fabric. In the Kutch and Banaskantha districts, a visitor will find an incredible diversity of embroidery styles depending on the community they visit — Rabaris, Ahirs, Jaths, Mutwas, Meghwals, Sodhas and other communities have their own distinctive styles of embroidery. Saurashtra is also known for its embroidery and applique. Beadwork is another popular craft of women in Saurashtra. This is largely done by Kathi women who attach beads to each other to create shapes and forms similar to the embroidery and appliqué handwork of the area. The beadwork products include ornamental hangings, decorations for bullocks, horses and carts, and everyday objects such as fans and pads used to support heavy water jars.
While the Kutch and Kathiawad peninsulas are known for their handwork, the tribal communities of northern, eastern and southern Gujarat are known for the highly ritualistic arts like votive terracotta figures and pithoro paintings, which have importance in rites and festivals. Warli painting and bamboo crafts are specialties of southern Gujarat.
Apart from popular crafts, a number of sophisticated arts, crafts and weaves developed in Gujarat for the Mughal emperors, the numerous princely states of Gujarat and the European colonial powers, some of which continue to thrive even today.
For more information on art and craft holiday experiences in Gujarat contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in India.
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