Himachal Honeymoon Tour

Handicraft in Himachal Pradesh

Isolated as they are, due to the high altitudes, the people of Himachal Pradesh are by and large, self contained and have developed through the years a rich tradition of handicrafts, totally original and distinctive. These range from wood-work to leather embroidery, metal wares to carpets and woolen textiles. New designs are being added to the traditional ones and new markets, both in India and abroad, are being discovered.

patterns.

All these symbols carry a meaning behind them - flutes signify happiness, the lotus signifies purity. Most highlanders use carpets for furnishing. Even their sturdy ponies have colorful carpet saddles. 'Chuktu', a blanket, is actually a modified version of a carpet. Some of the earliest carpets were made by weaving four strips about nine inches wide and sewing them together afterwards.

Ready-Made Garments, Accessories & Dolls

Himachal Pradesh with its sturdy hill people is well-known for its centuries old costumes and other garments. The 'Gujjar' folk have a unique mode of dress, quite different from the usual woolen Sarees and gowns worn by the rest of Himachal women. Gujjar men and women alike, wear a cotton shirt known as "Kurta". Delicately

embroidered with circular and linear patterns, the 'Kurtas' are in deep colors. Interestingly enough the lines and circles on the Kurta symbolize milk, and the dark background the color of the buffalo.

The Chamba folk are extremely fond of adornment. Head scarves are worn by the women, and these are usually of bright printed cotton and knotted at the back. Bangles and rings made of horse hair are the typical accessories worn by the Chamba women.

To climb blithely over the rocky hill-sides, the people wear sturdy grass shoes, comfortable and warm inside and brightly patterned on the outside.

The local traditional costumes are reflected in the exquisite dolls made by the Himachalis. These beautiful and life-like figurines lend charm to modern environs.

hair of the Pashmina Goat. The exquisite shawls of the Himachal are both plain and designed. The color of these, largely depend upon the wool, is mixed. The right mixture can result in beautiful grays, blues, mustards and blacks. If the designs of the Himachal Shawls are varied, so are also the methods of wearing them. Every district has improvised its style of draping the shawl, the most popular styles being 'Dhobroo' and 'Pattu'.

Movement in embroidery! The Chamba embroiderer has captured it on his rumals. It may be mischievous Krishna at his pranks stealing butter, or dancing with Radha. It may be a lamenting women parted from her lover, or people frolicking at a local fair. All are worked in fine detail with vivid silks and in contrasting colors. The art of embroidery is largely based upon the indigenous Kangra and Chamba schools of paintings. The stitches are so closely, spaced that no gaps are visible. The word 'Rumal' may conjure up visions of a handkerchief to the layman but to the Chamba people, it is a form of adornment. Men drape these colorful embroidered rumals over their shoulders and the women use them as flowing veils. A Chamba rumals is such a priceless possession, that a bride's trousseau would be incomplete without it. Today, Chamba rumals are also used as wall-hangings, door and fire screens, cushion covers while the designs have been adopted for table-cloth and bed-spreads.

Leather Craft

The origin of the present Chamba Chappal makes a very interesting story. An English adviser to the Raja of Chamba State wanted a pair of Chamba Chappals. But the original pattern was too heavy and uncomfortable, so he designed his own chappals and explained to the local cobbler exactly how they should be made. But the

chappals eventually produced were nowhere like the ones he had in mind. They were better. The open tow and the partly woven vamp proved exceptionally comfortable and light, and worn with leather socks were ideal for waling and hiking. The Chamba Chappal has survived till today, plain as well as embroidered with Lanthana flowers, leaves and other belt which the locals use to lend glamour to their dresses.

Today, in keeping with the modern trends, new varieties and designs of leather goods have been added to the traditional list, fancy shoes, sandals, embroidered leathers, socks and belts

origin and at one time was limited only to the Buddhist monasteries. Gradually however, some of the romantic influences of the Chamba and Kangra schools seeped into the Gompa style. New local craftsmen have incorporated the Gompa art of painting into contemporary patchwork pictures.

Rugs & Namadas

High on the Himalayan reaches of Himachal, the hill-folk rear sheep and goats for the famous wool and hair that goes into the making of traditional balnkets, rugs and namdas. Gudma is the name given to the fleecy soft balnket that is made from the wool of Giangi sheep. Gudma weaving is mainly done in the Giabong and Kullu valleys, as

these areas have special kind of clay which is used for cleaning and finishing a Gudma. The Gudma usually comes in natural wool colours finished with a warm red or black edging. Thobis (Floor Coverings) and Kharcha (a mattress) are made from goat hair, while 'Pattoo' cloth, carpets and yarn are made from the soft wool sheep.

Of more recent origin is the making of namdas of floor coverings. These are made by felting the wool and then embroidering on it. This looks really attractive and gives greater wear to the namda. Some typical designs Himachal Flowers and Animals.

workers occupied an esteemed - place in society for hey made the chariots for the warriors, and also drove them. Evidence of Himachal woodcraft is to be found in old buildings on seats, doors, windows and panels. Most notable was the Vice - regal Lodge at Shimla beautifully carved ceilings and panels. The present day wood work displays all the intricacy of the old. The main objects of work are fruit bowls, beer mugs, wooden Jewellery and carved images, both romantic and mythological in origin.

All along the crystal clear streams of Himachal grow the bamboo and the willow. When winter approaches, the hill people strip the bamboo. And when the country side is blanketed with snow they sit around cosy fires and fashion intricate and sturdy bowls, trays and baskets out of the dried bamboo. Oval-shaped, lotus-shaped or egg baskets with tall graceful handles are some of the typical basket patterns of Himachal Pradesh.

Metal Crafts & Jewellery

Metal craft is one of the most ancient and developed crafts of Himachal Pradesh. the traditional metals are pure copper and silver. Local craftsmanship in casting, ornamenting and engraving, show great skill, delicacy and taste.

Legend has it that Sita, in the great Indian epic the Ramayana wore