Bikaner is the home of an astounding variety of
traditional crafts. Century-old skills continue to produce some of the most
artistic and exciting wares in Bikaner which are admired and collected not
only by connoisseurs in India but are popular all across thw world. Bikaner
is a land of vibrant colors. These colors are a striking part of the
Bikaneri life and are found in the bustling bazars, in fairs & festivals, in
the costumes worn and produced, and the traditional paintings & murals. When
shopping for souvenirs, the subtle yet ethnic appeal of every item is
irresistible whether it be furniture, leatherwear, pottery, metal craft of
textiles. It is a little wonder, therefore, that because of these artistic
treasures which let you indulge without being extravagant, Bikaner has been
dubbed as the shopper’s paradise. Its crafts have always been a source of
fascination whether one appreciates them for purely visual or aesthetic
pleasure or pauses to savour the underlying history, culture and
symbolism.
LEATHER WARE
The
leather works of Bikaner is interestingly a joint effort of the tanning.
Cutting and stitching, the women do the embroidery and ornamentation.
Designs include sequin work and tassels, brass studs or machine- stitched
motifs depending on the region in which the leather article is produced.
Pick up leather shoes, sandals, water bags, fans, pouches, saddles and even
musical instruments.
Bikaner known for its foot wear also. The popular jutis
come with artistically embroidered uppers. They are incredibly strurdy and
long lasting and although somewhat uncomfortable for the first few days,
they fit like a glove after they are worn for some times.
JEWELLERY
Bikaner is the rich in jewellery , each area having
its own unique style. Some of the traditional designs are rakhri, timaniyan,
bala, bajuband, gajra, gokhru, jod, etc. tribal women wear heavy, simply
crafted jewellery and seem to carry the weight (almost up to five kgs)
without much discomfort almost all the time. Men too wear their share of
ornaments in the form of chockers and earrings.
FLOOR COVERAGE
Rajasthan’s floor covering industry has been revitalized to suit the needs
of the modern buyer and Rajasthani carpets are making headway in markets not
only in India but abroad as well.
Skilled artisans had been summoned from Herat (Afghanistan) by Raja Man
Singh of Ajmer to train the local workers and at present Jaipur, Bikaner and
Ajmer are prominent centers of carpet weaving
PAINTING & POTTERY
Paintings “Brush strikers of
imagination and devotion “
Painting has always been an integral part of bikanri culture- a way of life.
From humble village huts to the opulent places of maharajas, from the homes
of wandering folk-singers to monumental tamales of hoary antiquity,
paintings are to be found every were in many colors and forms.
An irresistible buy is the painting of Bikaner.
The bikanari
painter expressed his creative impulse in embellishing facades, walls and
ceilings of chambers of havelis and mahals, backdrops of deities in temples,
manuscripts of romance and poetry, religion and history, music and
mythology.
The painting done by inimitable styles and color, rendering is
so distinctive that they catch the eyes and touch the soul. Popular painting
are the ‘PHAD PAINTING’ which are predominantly red and green scrolls
depicting the life of the local hero Pabuji. And on the jewelry the
‘MEENAKARI’ is much famous in jewelry designing the Meenakars are paint the
jewel by the color.
