ART AND CRAFT OF RAJASTHAN

Carpets

Bikaner, Jaipur and Ajmer are the main places for beautiful carpets. Hand knotted carpets have floral or angular motifs. These carpets are known for their high quality of craftmanship and are colour-fast.

Carpet weaving is not indegenious to India but brought in by the mughals. By the end of the late 16th century, Indian carpet weavers were producing superior examples comparable with the finest products of Persia. The rulers of Amber-Jaipur took a great interest in carpets and built up a large collection of 16th and 17th century Persian and Mughal carpets. The carpet industry in Jaipur started only in the mid 19th century when carpet making was introduced as a jail craft.

Durries A Durrie is a cool, light rug. Rajasthani durries are smooth and closely woven. Pastel shades and a sparse use of geometrical motifs are popular. Durrie weaving is also a craft special to Rajasthan. Durries of Ramgarh, nigarli woven with a cotton warp and left are especially rich in design and while being light in weight, give a sumptuous carpet like effect. Jaipur is a thriving centre for carpets and durries today.

Puppets

Puppetry, an ancient, popular form of folk entertainment. The string puppet in Rajasthan are called katputlis, or marionettes. The riveting histrionics of the puppeters, like the full-throated songs of the Mirasis, Langas and Manganiyars belong to old passtimes, epomizing a traditional, leasurely pace of life. No village fair, no religious festival and no social gathering would be complete without them. The traditional puppeters were from the wandering communities of the Bhatts. They move from village to village with their box of katputlis, accessories and dhoklas during the festive seasons, returning to their villages to cultivate their small patch of land during the short rainy season.


Paintings

Rajasthan’s role in the development of Indian art has been very important. From the 16th century onwards there are many schools of paintings like the Mewar school, the Bundi - Kota Kalam, the Jaipur, Bikaner, Kishangarh and Mewar schools. Influenced by the surroundings, these medieval paintings have their own unique styles - the hills and valleys, deserts, palaces and forts, gardens, court scenes, religious processions and those high