Saptamatrikas literally means seven mothers. They are often seen together on a panel in temples, usually carved on a single stone. Sometimes Ganesh and Kartikeyan accompany them, but not always. I have been wanting to write about Saptamatrikas since 2011 when I first read about them as part of my Indian Art course at the […]

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Elegant lustrous Silver on Jet Black Zinc – Bidri Art Work is one of the exquisite metal crafts of India. The black color gives it a kind of mystique while the silver shines like the cliché Silver Lining. My first introduction to Bidriware was when I received a lovely box as a gift. After that, I […]

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If the Indian map were depicted by its handicraft clusters, it would be a vibrant diamond, housing pockets of handicrafts along its length and breadth. The Indian handicraft map would feature deep zaffre Jaipur pottery in Rajasthan, burnished Bastar metal art in Chhatisgarh and russet wooden toys in Sawantwadi, Maharashtra. Tinkling Kutch metal bells would […]

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Stone sculptures began in India about 2200 years ago with the depiction of Buddhist art stories that we know as Jataka Tales. Before this, the art must have existed but on perishable material like wood that has not survived the times. Earliest stone sculptures are attributed to the sites of Barhut near Jabalpur in MP […]

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Nataraja, popularly known as Dancing Shiva, has its origins in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. It is probably the most recognizable piece of Indian Art, which may be competing with Ganesh’s images that we see in various Avatars. Though has not changed much over time, it remains more or less the same. I have seen only […]

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