Top 10 Unique Handicrafts of India

Handicrafts are products made entirely by hand or with simple tools. The craftsmanship of the craftsman plays a fundamental role in the production of handicraft objects. When it comes to arts and culture, India is one of the best culturally rated countries in the world. Indian handicrafts were on the top and respected around the world and admired by all.  They have their own history, from the Indus Valley civilization to modern handicrafts. Indian handicrafts were an integral part of the Native Americans. Top 10 Unique Handicrafts of India.

Here are some of the famous Indian handicraft and its beauty:

Zardozi Embroidery

Zardozi is one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. Persian embroidery that flourished during the Mughal period in the 17th century. It is beautiful metal embroidery that was once used to decorate the costumes of kings and kings in India. Zardozi is made from gold and silver threads, beads and sequins on expensive fabrics such as silk and velvet. 

Zardozi embroidered items are in high demand in the fashion and bridal industry. Zardozi is used to make suits from lehengas, cholis, sarees, salwar etc. Patterns are often created using gold and silver thread and may incorporate pearls, pearls, and precious stones. Today, however, craftsmen use a combination of copper wire with a gold or silver sheen and silk thread.

 In fact, it’s difficult to find gold/silver on such a large scale as before. It is used as decoration in a variety of applications including clothing, home furnishings and animal traps. The process of zardozi embroidery begins with craftsmen sitting cross-legged around addaa, a wooden frame, with their tools. 

Tools include curved hooks, needles, salman coins, sitaar, round sequins, glass & Plastic beads, dabkaa (thread) and kasab. Today zardozi is popular in the Indian cities of Lucknow, Hyderabad, Farrukhabad, Chennai and Bhopal. 

In 2013, the Register of Geographical Indications (GIR) granted Lucknow zardozi a Geographical Indication (GI) registration. Overall it has become one of the top unique handicrafts in India.

Chamba Rumal

Chamba Rumals or Handkerchiefs is one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. It is a local brand that creates an exclusive market for the sale of rare and spectacular Indian handicrafts from the Pahari, i.e. Himachal Pradesh, offers. They are famous for their embroidery that looks like paintings, which is why Chamba Rumals are also called embroidery paintings. 

The collection is all about exploration, rebirth and innovation in different textures, stitches and patterns. It is a work to preserve traditional craftsmanship by selling authentic hand-embroidered crafts and the highest quality silk threads dyed with natural dyes. They are embroidered with bright colors like yellow, orange, blue, purple and green. 

The scenes of Lord Krishna Rasleela, Ramayana and Mahabharata are often depicted with delicate embroidery on these handkerchiefs. craftsmen also depict hunting scenes, dice games and floral motifs with embroidery. Rumal Chamba are used to cover gifts and offerings. They are also given away at weddings. 

During the Republic Day Parade in 2017, for the first time in four years, Himachal Pradesh presented a massive Chamba Rumal installation designed by Prof. Him Chatterjee, Director of the Department of Fine Arts and Painting, University of ‘Himachal Pradesh. Moreover it is one of the top unique handicrafts in India.

Kullu Shawl

Kullu shawls are one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India a type of shawl They are made in Kullu, himachal Pradesh with various geometric patterns and bright colors. Kullu shawls are handwoven shawls with multicolored geometric borders. 

They are world famous for their simple but elegant designs, rich wool fabrics and high quality artwork Kullu shawls are worn by both men and women, but men’s shawls are usually called “law” or “pattu”; and are often plain with no pattern or with minimally patterned stripes along two edges. 

They mainly consist of three types of wool: merino wool, angora wool and wool from local sheep. These different types of wool are sometimes used together for more variety. The wool needed to weave the cloths comes from locally available sheep and goats. Pashmina wool is obtained from Pashmina goats

. Cloths made in the valley are woven on handlooms found in almost every home in rural areas. They are used to weave shawls and other clothing fabrics for personal or commercial use.

 In the past, vegetable dyes were used to dye wool, but chemical dyes are now used for light colors. These cloths are in high demand across India making it one of the top unique handicrafts in India which is why this industry has now grown a lot.

Blue Pottery

Blue Pottery is one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. Persian blue ceramic art came to Jaipur from Persia and Afghanistan via the Mughal courts. This craft is called blue pottery mainly because of the use of blue patterns in pottery. This craft is a livelihood for many artisans in Jaipur. 

In the beginning it was used to make tiles to decorate Central Asian mosques, tombs and palaces. Later after the conquests and arrival in India, the Mughals started using them in India. The artisans use Quartz Powder, Glass Powder, Multani Mitti, and Gum as the basic raw materials to create the product. 

Flowers are the main motifs in this craft, although images of royal elephants, camels and horses are also depicted in this craft. Jaipur blue pottery has evolved greatly in terms of materials, styles and forms. The raw materials and manufacturing processes used have evolved over the course of years. 

The glaze coating used on pottery used to contain lead, but is now mostly lead-free. Nowadays, craftsmen make many useful products such as vases, lamp holders, ashtrays, plates, bowls, bathroom sets, incense sticks, doorknobs, jugs, mugs, tea sets, napkin rings, etc. No wonder it is one of the top unique handicrafts in India.

Meenakari and Kundal Jewellery

Meenakari  and kundan jewellery is one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. It is the art of coloring and decorating with colored minerals such as cobalt oxide and copper oxide. These minerals are applied to metal surfaces to add a colorful look to Meenakari jewelry.

 Red, blue and green are the most commonly used colors in Meenakari. The word Kundan means extremely pure gold. Meenakari used to be performed only on gold (kundan), but nowadays it is also performed on other metals such as silver, copper, etc. 

Meenakari and Kundan jewelry is precious jewelry made of gold or silver set with precious stones. Kundan jadai or gem setting is done on the front of the jewels and meenakari on the back. The main motifs of this type of jewelry are flowers, leaves, peacocks, parrots and elephants. Overall it is one of the top unique handicrafts in India.

Woodwork

Woodwork is one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. The northern states of India have a rich tradition of carpentry. The Punjab regions are famous for their exquisite wooden furniture. Kashmir is famous for its walnut crafts. Chhattisgarh artisans specialize in wood crafts such as masks, doors, window frames and carvings.

 Jharkhand is famous for its wooden toys that always go hand in hand. Goan woodcarvings are an aesthetic blend of Portuguese and Indian cultures, and the designs are primarily floral, animal, and human figures. Thanks to the lush forests, woodworking is a popular craft in southern India. 

This happens mainly on rosewood and sandalwood. Cutlery, jewelery boxes and letter openers in various designs are made from red sandalwood from Andhra Pradesh. Madurai (a city in Tamil Nadu) is famous for its rosewood carvings. 

Karnataka is famous for its beautiful elephants, rosewood paintings and furniture. Sandalwood is also used to make utility and decorative objects carved with motifs of flowers, vines, birds and animals. Beautiful female figures are carved from kumbli wood in Kerala. That’s why woodwork is one of the top and best unique handicrafts in India. 

Shellcraft

Shell crafts are one of the top and best unique handicrafts in India. In India, there are three types of seashells used to make seashell crafts: seashells, turtle shells, and conch shells. Seashell crafts include various types of handicrafts, such as bracelets, forks, decorative bowls, medallions, curtains, chandeliers, mirror frames, placemats, etc. 

Seashells also have endless aesthetic uses and are used extensively in religious rituals and ceremonies. In general, beach resorts like Mannar Bay, Goa, Odisha, etc.There are places for handicrafts and shell art. Goan mussels are famous across the country. The items made by the artisans are both useful and decorative.

 This includes posters, curtains, lights, pot holders, table lamps and mirror frames. Shells are collected along the sea beaches. Shells are usually dirty and sometimes buried deep in the sand to be cleaned. They are then cut into the desired sizes and shapes and washed with water. Moreover they are one of the best unique handicrafts in India. 

Bamboo Handicrafts

Bamboo crafts are one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. The wide availability of bamboo has prompted artisans in India to offer intricately designed utility products. Bamboo crafts have helped many people find work. Products include boxes, chairs, teapots, baskets and more. 

A variety of bamboo items includes baskets, dolls, toys, furniture, rugs, wall hangings, crossbows, jewelry boxes and more. Bamboo handicrafts are mainly made in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. 

The people of Tripura are skilled in making the finest handicrafts from bamboo and sugarcane as different states have different forms of handicrafts. Tripura bamboo and reed products are renowned for their creative skills in creating elegant baskets, small framed mirrors, hairpins, powders, decorative trays and decorations. 

The bamboo and reed crafts of Manipur encompass a wide variety of traditional and modern creations. Beautifully woven and crafted from bamboo and reed, these Manipur tents feature beautiful dividers, backdrops and mandap designs.

 The tradition of handicrafts has evolved through generations and the pursuit of innovation and invention continues to give each handicraft a contemporary look while preserving the heritage and culture of India. No wonder it is one of the top unique handicrafts in India. 

Silk Saris

Saris are one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. The eastern part of India is also famous for its silk sarees, namely the Baluchari saree from West Bengal and the Mooga and Assam silks from Assam. Their saris come in different colors and look very rich and beautiful.

 Banarasi sarees are among the finest saris in India and are known for their gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silks and rich embroidery. Sari weaving is a family tradition in rural southern India. 

Tamil Nadu is famous for Kanchipuram Saree. The traditional Kanchipuram saree has gained a modern look with fewer patterns and the introduction of new colors. Andhra Pradesh is famous for its cotton sarees with rich gold edging and heavy pallus in Gadwal and Kothakota. 

In Karnataka, cotton sarees are made in dark earth tones. Irkal is a distinctive Karnataka sari dominated by rich colors such as navy red, peacock blue and parrot green. Maharashtra is famous for Paithani sarees. No doubt saris are one of the top unique handicrafts in India. 

Kondapalli Toys

Kondapalli toys are one of the top 10 unique handicrafts in India. The wooden toys in Kondapalli, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh made from softwood known as tella poniki found in many nearby hills of Kondapalli. It is a 400 year old craft tradition. 

First, the wood undergoes a slow heating process to dry out any moisture. The wood is then cut and the edges are smooth. The limbs of the toys are modeled separately and then attached to the body. The sculpting tools used to create these toys include an axe, chisel, hammer and drill. The tamarind paste acts as a glue to hold the pieces together.

In this last step, the coloring is done with oil and watercolor or vegetable paints and varnishes applied depending on the type of toy. The brush is made of goat hair. In the past, natural dyes from stones, herbs, roots and resins were used, today watercolor and oil paints are increasingly used. That’ s why they are one of the top unique handicrafts in India. 

Conclusion

As for the conclusion these are some of the top handicrafts in India. These handicrafts are handmade and made with finest skills. They are beautifully colored and are at affordable prices.