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Each place has some unique crafts associated with it. Throughout all the phases of history Delhi has added several crafts to itself. Here is information about crafts in Delhi.
Chiks
Delhi is home to a variety of crafts that not only includes monuments but things such as jewelry, different kinds of crafts and textiles. One of them is the indigenous use of bamboo strips converting them into curtains called ‘Chiks’ mats called ‘Chataai’ and Garden Furniture. They are the earthy, natural alternative for plastic chairs or wooden tables; are environmental friendly and available in a riot of colors to give your home décor that extra edge. You can also buy terracotta wind-chimes for your garden for giving the area an extra-earthy feel. |
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Meenakari
Next on your list should be the exquisitely designed Kundan and Meenakari jewelry. Either these designs, or rather forms of ornaments were highly patronized by the Mughals and now are the ‘must-haves’ in any bridal collection. Kundan is an art of setting of stones (usually finely cut diamonds) in gold and silver. An envelope of gold leaf secures the gems in the trinkets and not by an edge or clutch. Meenakari was originally a craft of Hindus in Punjab using the ‘Champlevé Technique’. The colors generally used today are royal blue, blood red and forest green.
Clothes and Shoes
All this jewelry should ideally be worn with the Delhi invented ‘Zari’ and ‘Zardozi’ saris and salwaar-kameezes. These two textile centered inventions were developed on the bidding of Mohammed bin Tughlaq, Emperor of Tughlaq dynasty. The legend is that he got together 500 of the best weavers of India, Afghanistan and Persia; and asked them to make textiles designs from silver and gold wires. Royal women in his harem wore them and the rest were gifted away to royals in different countries. Today the saris do not use real gold or silver threads out of economic considerations but use synthetic ones.
Knick-Knacks
Your shopping bag is incomplete without some Papier Mache decorative objects like masks, pen stands, wall hangings etc. You must not forget to pack in some leather ‘Mojri’ or flat sandals, which sometimes has embellishments such as tassels and ribbons. For adorning a bare wall in your apartment, you must take a ‘Delhi-Style’ Mughal miniature painting for the riot of colors will cheer up the place. This style was started by Mansoor, a famous painter of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s court. It is known for its vitality and naturalism done on unique handmade paper. |
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