Arts & Crafts of Punjab

Arts & Crafts of Punjab

Punjab has a rich tradition of arts and crafts. The richness of the land is reflected in its handicraft. The people of Punjab lay much importance on their artistry and the minute details of their work. You get to see their skill woven even into the footwear, daily dresses, carpets and almost every other thing. The artistic creations of Punjab are acclaimed all over the world. The skilled and dexterous artisans of the state produce a variety of handicrafts and even the rural women have a major contribution in the production of these fascinating art works. Mud work is a famous rural practice in Punjab, prevalent from the ancient times. It is a trend in Punjab to mud-plaster the walls of the house and then, create motifs and designs on the mudded walls.

Basketry in punjab

Basketry is a longstanding handicraft followed in most parts of Punjab. Mostly, the womenfolk in villages are oriented towards basketry as a means of employment. Initially, these baskets were predominantly used for household purposes. However, with the passage of time, they came to be adorned as a work of art and were used in homes as showpieces and decorative items.

From times immemorial, man has been inclined to weave vegetable fibers and make wicker articles. Basketry is done by shaving thin straws of grass. These straws are used to weave mats, rugs, carpets, curtains and hand fans. The hand fans are extremely popular and are known as Peshawari pakkhe. Even smaller size fans, called kunda ladar pakkhi, are available. Other products include tokris, chaj, changair,tiffin baskets, waste paper baskets and oval shaped containers, with lids.

Abundant availability of raw materials, like bamboo, cane, reeds, grasses, munj, palm leaf, date leaf, cornhusks and other items, make basketry a popular household craft. Besides, the straw commonly called as 'sarkanda’ is widely used in Punjab for basketry.

Almost all the tourist places in the state, like Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Patiala, have a wide collection of basketry items.

Durries  of punjab

Durries are the flat woven rugs that are functional as well as striking in nature. They are used either as carpets on the floor or as bed sheets. What makes them distinct from the normal carpet and the bedcover is the intricate blend of artistic designs. The bright presentation of artistry in Punjabi durries adds to decor of the room. Initially made for the countryside usage, durries now form an integral part of urban homes. They present a distinct blend of both tradition and modernization, in a composed harmony.



Technique
Many of the Punjabi village girls are involved in weaving of durries from a young age. These durries are made in two distinct ways, depending on their purpose. Striped, multi-colored durries that are used on bed are manufactured by pit loom. While the one spread on the floor are usually made in two contrasting colors, on the adda, using three weaves simultaneously. The art of durrie-making lies in creating colorful patterns, keeping the rug reversible. The design is created by interweaving colored weft threads through the wrap threads. The weft is usually wool and the wrap is either cotton or wool. Different types of patterns are created on the durrie, during weaving. The striped durrie is the most popular one.

Popularity
Durries are gradually gaining importance over the carpets. The reason is that durries are easy to maintain. They are lighter and are easy to move and clean. Besides, they are highly economical, suiting the common man's pocket. They are available in every style, ranging from the casual to the gorgeous ones. Durries are widely available all over Punjab. However, the main centers producing durries are Amritsar, Nikodar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Anandpur Sahib. Mani Majra, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, produces distinct durries with special patterns and designs. Durries of Mani Majra stand different from the durries produced elsewhere in Punjab.

Juttis of Punjab

Punjabi juttis represent the traditional footwear of Punjab, which is known worldwide for its exquisite design and intricate pattern. It can be described as a traditional Indian shoe, which some other states like Rajasthan and Haryana also manufacture. However, the name 'jutti’ is typical to Punjab, whereas similar traditional footwear is called khussa or mojri in other states. Juttis are long shoes with a curved end. They are made out of self-lured leather. Gold and silver threads are used to weave embroidery on them.

There is a rich display of artistry in Punjabi jootis. They are exceptionally colorful and extraordinarily traditional. There is a wide use of fancy materials like beads, pearls, coloured threads, small mirrors and seashells. Light juttis are considered the best. It is said that they are so light that even the sparrows can fly away with them. They are designed in such a way that they give an ethnic Indian look to the wearer, combined with a royal appearance. Utility, along with beauty, is the main concept behind the production of juttis. Dressed like sherwani are incomplete without the grace of a jutti.

The designs of Punjabi juttis are inspired by the footwear that was worn by the royal people during Mughal period. Usually, they have a curved toe, which sets them apart from other footwear. They consist of a network known as 'jaali’, which is made up of the mixture of variety of threads. Juttis come in wide varieties; some of the popular ones are the King wedding jutti, style jutti, khausa jutti, punch zari and comfort juti, energise jutti and mesmeric embroidery jutti.

Punjabi Paintings

In the grand collection of Punjabi arts and crafts, one name that deserves a mention is the mural paintings and frescoes. These types of paintings are mainly done on permanent surfaces like walls, ceiling, gates etc. Punjabi people, by nature are lively and juvenile. In Punjab, you find color in everything you look for - be it their costumes, festivals, living style or arts and crafts. Punjabi people are very fond of decorating their homes and shrines. Mural paintings and frescoes are the main forms of paintings flourishing in the state. Most of the villages in Punjab have huge gates painted with the images of animals or scenes from the life of Sikh Gurus, national sports and festivals or some pictures from the battlefield. The ancient city of Amritsar, Patiala, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Faridkot have grand historic buildings displaying the splendor of the rich mural paintings and frescoes of the golden days.

Paintings of Punjab

Paintings in Amritsar
Most enchanting sights of Punajbi paintings can be seen in Harmandir Sahib, Akhara Bala Nand, Tower of Baba Atal Rai and Ranjit Singh Musuem, in Amritsar. The sanctum of Harmandir Sahib has 300 stunning designs of paintings engraved in stone-inlay and mirror work, belonging to the typical Punjabi-genre. At Maharaja Ranjit Singh Musuem, the most remarkable feature is the set of ivory miniature paintings of the chiefs. Baba Atal Rai Tower has a gallery of wall paintings, stone-inlay and metalwork. A room in Akhara Bala Nand, near the Golden temple, has its walls engraved with the frescoes of religious themes.

Paintings in Patiala
Qila Mubarik Androon in Patiala is well known for its rich collection of paintings. These paintings have been designed by the great artists of Kangra and Rajasthan. They depict the themes of Ramayana, Mahabharta, Shrimad Bhagwat, Geet Govinda, Baramas and Ragas and Ragnis. The legends of Laila Majnu, Sassi Punnu and Sohni Mahiwal are also painted in one of the bedchambers.  You find a splendid exhibition of mural paintings on the walls of Sheesh Mahal as well. The paintings are a translation of the poetry of Keshav Dass, Bihari Lal and Surdas. Themes from mythology, legends, Ramayana, Nayak-Nayika and Baramasa are also depicted. There is a painting of the Guru Nanak Dev sitting under the tree, flanked by Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana. There are also representations of the Sikh royalty and aristocracy like Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Mharaja Dalip Singh and Dhian Singh Dogra.

Other Paintings
The famous Raghunath Temple in Gurdaspur, built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, contains some of the rich fresco paintings belonging to 19th century. Thakar Dwara of Bairagas, in Hoshiarpur, is full of mural and fresco paintings depicting socio-religious themes. Themes ranging from simple daily life activities, like a lady feeding a parrot, to the religious themes are presented here candidly. Shekuhpua temple in Kapurthala, constructed by Diwan Saudagar Mal, has a small sanctum encircled by broad path that contains variety of mural paintings. Gurudwara Baba Mati Sahib in Jalandhar and Gurudwara Harshai in Faridkot consist of some of the best mural paintings.

Punjabi Paranda

Paranda is one of the traditional handicrafts of Punjab. It is a colorful hanging worn by the Punjabi women in their hair. Most of the Punjabi women have long hair, which they plait and then tie a paranda at the end. Parandis are available with a great variety in designs and colors. They are made out of a bunch of silk threads, intricately woven with other skillful works. The craftsmen require a great deal of patience and creativity while producing the parandas. They reflect the natural liveliness and spontaneity of the Punjabi people.

In Punjab, parandas are available in different types, each one of them designed for a specific occasion. The villages in the districts of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Nikodar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana are mainly engaged in the handicraft industry of parandi. Though paranda-making is not as exotic as the carpet weaving craft, the market for them is widely growing throughout the country. Paranda is now extensively used by women all over India, particularly during special occasions. It has a great appeal for foreigners as well, owing to its uniqueness and brightness.

Punjabi Phulkari

'Phulkari’, literally meaning the flower working, is designed to enhance the beauty of attire. It is an art form, in which exquisite embroidery is done over shawls, dupattas and headscarves, in a simple and sparse design. In some cases, the entire cloth is covered with dense designs, so that the ground cloth becomes invisible. This is called as the 'bagh’ design, which literally means 'garden’. Bagh is generally considered as a symbol of marriage and is widely used during special occasions.

Origin

Phulkaris were originally made by Punjabi women for their own personal use. They used to design embroideries on their garments as a means of passing time. Nevertheless, this art form gradually became a significant craft of Punjab, with a huge market both within and outside the country. It was particularly after the 15th century that phulkari grew rapidly in popularity. Some scholars trace the history of phulkari to Iran, where it is known as "Gulkari”. Others are of the opinion that it came from Central Asia along with Jat tribes who migrated to India and settled in Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat.  There is also reference to phulkari in Vedas, Mahabharat, Guru Granth Sahib and folk songs of Punjab.

Technique
Phulkari is done by making artistic small-darn stitch over the cloth. The stitches are made on the reverse side of a coarse cotton cloth, with colored silk threads. Smaller stitches are finer, delicate and have an awesome look. Only one single strand is used at one time. The stitches are done vertically, horizontally and even diagonally, to create special effect of light and shade. The base cloth is homespun, locally woven and dyed khadi. Such a base is strong, long lasting and cheap and at the same time, facilitates much needed counting of threads while stitching. Besides, it can be easily worked on without a frame and the cloth does not puckers or pulls. Colors like white, dark blue, black and brown are generally used for the base cloth, but the most preferred color is red. The fabric itself is used as an inner decoration so that the pattern sewn on it becomes more distinct and attractive. The finished portion of the embroidery is rolled and covered with a muslin cloth, to keep the embroidered part clean while working.

Designs and Patterns
There is an extensive pattern of designs used in phulkari. Every possible representation of life and nature find expression therein. Though it began with geometrical patterns, flowers and leaves, today, the designs have been enlarged to encompass birds, animals, human figures, the sun, moon, the objects of everyday use and everything found on the earth. Then, there is a special bagh design called dhoop-chhaon (sun-shade), which is extremely popular in the state. However, no religious subjects or darbar scenes are embroidered. Some of the most famous varieties of phulkaris and baghs have been listed below.

• Chope: This variety is usually presented to the bride by her grandmother, during a ceremony before the wedding. It has straight, two-sided line stitch and appears the same on the reverse. However, only the border is embroidered and the center is left plain. It is usually red in color and worn as a veil.
• Vari-da-bagh: This is also done on a red cloth. It is covered with lozenge golden yellow embroidery, with smaller ones within the border.
• Ghunghat Bagh: This includes a small border on all the four sides, with a large triangular motif in the center. It is worn as a veil.
• Darshan dwar: This is usually used for presentation in temples or for adorning the walls of home, when the Granth Sahib is brought therein. It is also done on a red cloth with the motifs of arched gates facing design of humans, animals, birds, flowers etc.
• Chamba: This includes a series of wavy creepers, stylized leaves and flowers and is highly in vogue recently.
• Suber: This is worn by the bride during marriage. It contains five motifs, one in the center and one in each of the corner.

Other than the above mentioned, there are some more important phulkaris like bawan bagh, satrang, surajmukhi, mor, mirchi, belan and parantha and ikka or ace of diamonds. A new form of phulkari has evolved of late which is not as detailed and time consuming as the older variety. Using a range of different fast colored synthetic threads, it is done from the top of the cloth rather than on its reverse.

Punjab Woodwork

Punjab is well known for its artistic woodwork. Punjabi carpenters are highly skilled in making strong, durable and at the same time, visually attractive furniture. Their specialty lies in making a creative bed that has the back fitted with mirrors and has beautifully carved, colorful legs called pawas. Various motifs of animals, birds, natural scenery and geometrical patterns are used for carving on the pawas. Low, comfortable seats called peeras, similar to a small table, but comparatively very small in size, is unique to Punjab. Peeras are made in almost every village of Punjab.

Among the other wood works of Punjab, pidhis deserve a special mentioning. They are the small stools made of wood, which has an intricate designs made on it. They are small in comparison to chairs, just 6-10 inches in height. They are highly attractive and add to the decor of the room, apart from serving the usual purpose of seating. Pidhis are traditional and at the same time, have a modern touch. There is an enormous display splendid artistry in Punjab, made very attractive using colorful threads. Katarpur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur are the main centers of pidhi manufacture.

Other than pidhis, Punjab is also famous for decorative boxes, chessboards, teapots, table legs, mirror frames and toys made of wood. The carpenters of Patiala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bhera and Hoshiarpur are highly acclaimed for their artistic skills and you will find the best wood works available here. Woodcarving uses the skill of carving, incising, coloring and inlaying. Punjab artisans are experts in giving lacquer finish to woodcrafts, in adorning them with colored mirrors and in engraving the wood. However, the onslaught of high technology is weighing heavy on the traditional art forms. A sincere effort from government as well as the people is required to preserve this rich tradition.