#kavad art

[aahanna]

Celebrating the Resplendent Kavad Art of Rajasthan

Rajasthan's Kavad art is a vibrant testament to India's rich cultural heritage, weaving myths, legends, and daily life into intricately carved, foldable wooden shrines. Skilled artisans bring divine tales to life with precision and passion, showcasing Rajasthan's unique cultural identity. With intricately carved wooden panels, vivid natural colors, and delicate layered storytelling, Kavad art preserves the state's history, mythology, and folklore. Let's honor the artisans' dedication, preservation of traditional techniques, and Rajasthan's cultural legacy. Kavad art reminds us that art transcends time and space, culture is a living entity, and tradition meets innovation, making it a true masterpiece of Indian folk art.

[bai-rouran]

I’ve been contacted multiple times by people asking for copies of my old Pantalone/Dottore/Baizhu posts since Natlan was released. I sincerely appreciate folks interest, but I will not be reposting those works. They were high-effort, I had a ton of fun writing them and educating folks on history, but the attention they received resulted in monetized content theft, and set off unstable people. Including an obsessive Pantalone fan who spent 6 months using numerous alts to harass me and anyone else who posted about the character, until I finally gave up and deleted. I wish I was joking.

That said… I won’t deprive you of the raw info and feel bad seeing how many people actually liked and missed the posts. Here’s a list of every inspiration Hoyo’s used for Pantalone, Baizhu, and Dottore’s roles/designs so far.

*DON’T READ THIS if you’re concerned with the possibility of spoilers.*

1. Pantalone/Magnifico, greedy/ lecherous villain archetype of the Commedia dell’arte

2. Il Dottore/Gratiano/Balanzone Lombardi, self-important/lecherous archetype of the Commedia dell’arte

3. The Mule/Magnifico from the “Foundation” series by Isaac Asimov (hint-hint, have you met him in Natlan yet? coughSimulankacough)

4. The demon Pan from “The Golden Compass” (shape shifting, hint-hint-hint)

5. Saint Pantaleon/Pantaleimon of Nicomedia (“All Things Like a Lion”, “All-Compassionate”)

6. Saint Pantaleon/Pantaleimon Sudzhaksky the Immortal

7. Puppet/Phantom/Beast/“True” form of Sorcerer King Ganondorf from “The Legend of Zelda” series

8. Raven & Trigon from “Teen Titans”

9. Zhu Bajie (patron saint of masseuses, hostesses, & prostitutes that inspired Ganondorf’s design) and Sun Wuking from 16th century “Journey to the West” by Wu Cheng’en

10. Emperor Wang Mang of China via Zhi Yi’s in-game Classical Chinese reference (Xiao Quan Zhi Yi)

11. Pantaleon Pantoja from “Pantaleon y las Visitadoras” comedic novel/movie about allegedly true military prostitution operation, by Mario Vargas Llosa (coughpearlgalleycough)

12. The Rouran Khaganate and Yujiulu Shelun (hint-hint, you’ve been on Pants’ boats already)

13. Pappus of Alexandria (Pappus Line, projective planes)

14. Pappus of the Attelan Farce (Harbinger to Commedia Pantalone)

15. Kavad I / Sheroe, meaning“The Lion”

16. Kavad II, King of Kings

17. “Siroe” Opera by Handel

18. Khosrow I / Anushirvan, the Immortal Soul

19. Khosrow II, last King of Kings

20. Babak Khorramdin (Zoroastrianism as with “Zandik”)

21. Polonius from Shakespeare’s ���Hamlet”

22. Lotus-Eaters from Homer’s “Odyssey” (coughpearlgalleyagaincough, in-game achievement referencing lotus-eaters)

23. Apollonius of Tyana/Balinus, Master of the Talismans (corresponding to certain Sumeru works about a Jinn in a bottle: knock-off Jesus according to Philostratus’ embellishments)

24. Apollonius of Perga (A massive impact crater on the moon is named after him)

25. Mani the Manichaeist Prophet (also knock-off Jesus, commemorated on Baizhu’s birthday)

26. Richard Kuisel & Jean Coutrout, referencing human tendency towards conspiratorial gullibility

27. M.C. Escher, block-art-illusionist. Emphasis on his illusionist dualist works.

28. Xu Xian from “Legend of the White Snake”

29. “Lazzo of the Mirror” (Baizhu/Tartaglia interaction)

30. “Lazzo of Pantalone’s Story” (giant spoiler)

31. Eros (“Love”)

32. Erikepaios, “Power” as Ganondorf’s fragment of the Triforce represents

33. Mithraic lion, Zoroastrian lion deity wrapped in snake

34. Yaldabaoth, false Gnostic god characterized as lion-headed snake (see: Persona 5’s interpretation)

35. Aesclepius/“Surapio” via Enkanomiya

In-Game Hints: Enjou’s manipulations, Natlan’s abyssal enemies, solar themes, “segments,” and the Iniquitous Baptist. Research these characters/stories/histories/topics carefully, then look at how they relate to game lore. Happy hunting!

[tetrachromate]

gift art for @/alchemicalopu / psamtik on twitter of their sona Kavad converting mine to Manichaeism (meownichaeism), in the tarim basin sometime in the 10th century

[bhairavgarh0123]

Painted Traditions: The Living Art Legacy of Rajasthan

Rajasthan Art: A Journey Through the Colors of Royal Culture

Rajasthan isn't just a land of forts and deserts—it's a living canvas of art, color, and cultural expression. From palace murals and embroidered fabrics to intricate paintings and terracotta sculptures, Rajasthan art reflects centuries of royal patronage, folk traditions, and spiritual symbolism.

Whether you're a traveler, collector, or art enthusiast, here’s a deep dive into the traditional art of Rajasthan and where you can experience it.

1. Miniature Paintings – The Royal Canvas

Rajasthan is world-renowned for its miniature paintings, especially from the Mewar, Marwar, and Kishangarh schools. Painted with natural colors and fine brushes, these artworks depict court scenes, epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, and daily life in ancient India.

Where to Explore:

City Palace Museum, Udaipur

Local art galleries in Jaipur & Nathdwara

Handicraft shops near Lake Pichola

2. Phad & Pichwai – Stories on Cloth

🖼️ Phad Painting

Originating from Bhilwara, these are long scrolls depicting folk tales of local deities like Pabuji and Devnarayan, used by traditional storytellers.

🖼️ Pichwai Painting

Created in Nathdwara, near Udaipur, these depict Lord Krishna in different moods and festivals and are hung behind idols in temples.

3. Blue Pottery – Crafting Elegance with Earth

A famous Jaipur specialty, blue pottery is known for its vibrant turquoise and cobalt blue hues. It includes bowls, vases, tiles, and decorative items, all hand-painted and glazed without clay.

Tip: Makes a perfect souvenir or wedding gift.

4. Bandhani & Block Printing – Wearable Art

Rajasthan’s textiles are famous for their Bandhani (tie-dye) and Sanganeri/Ajrak block printing styles. These vibrant fabrics are used in sarees, turbans, dupattas, and home decor.

Great Shopping Spots:

Sanganer & Bagru villages near Jaipur

Hathipole Market, Udaipur

Shilpgram artisan fair

5. Wall Murals & Frescoes – Palaces That Speak

In places like Shekhawati and Bundi, entire towns are decorated with frescoes and mural art, turning walls into storybooks of royal weddings, hunting scenes, and mythological tales.

Tip: Hire a local guide to understand the stories behind the art.

6. Folk Art Forms Still Alive Today

Mandana Art – White chalk patterns on red clay floors, often drawn during festivals.

Kavad Craft – A painted storytelling box made of wood that unfolds like a theatre.

Terracotta Figures – Made in Molela village, often used in temples and rural homes.

7. Where to Stay for an Artistic Experience

For travelers seeking a culturally rich stay, Udaipur family-friendly hotels like Bhairavgarh combine Rajasthani décor with modern luxury, offering easy access to art hubs and fairs.

8. Where to Dine After an Art Walk?

After a day of soaking in culture, enjoy a relaxing meal at the best restaurant in udaipur. The ambiance reflects Rajasthan’s heritage, and the menu includes traditional favorites like Dal Baati Churma and Gatte ki Sabzi.

9. Art-Inspired Weddings?

Looking to add cultural elements to your wedding? Best wedding venues in Udaipur like Bhairavgarh can incorporate local art into décor, gift hampers, and themed functions like mehendi or haldi.

Final Thoughts

Rajasthan’s art is not confined to museums—it’s in its homes, walls, fabrics, and festivals. Whether you're watching a puppet show, buying a hand-painted diary, or marveling at a temple mural, you're stepping into a world where every stroke tells a story.

[taurean1]

BUY TISSUE WOVEN SAREE

Channapatna Geometric Patterns

Channapatna, known for its traditional wooden toys, has inspired a unique set of motifs in khadi sarees. The geometric patterns from Channapatna are characterized by vibrant colors and bold shapes, such as stripes and diamonds. These motifs add a lively and contemporary flair to BUY TISSUE WOVEN SAREE while paying homage to the region’s craftsmanship. The geometric designs are not only eye-catching but also provide a modern twist to traditional wear.

3. Koppal Embroidery

Koppal is celebrated for its traditional embroidery techniques, and its influence is evident in Karnataka khadi sarees. Koppal embroidery often features intricate floral patterns, paisleys, and geometric designs meticulously worked along the borders and pallu of the BUY TISSUE WOVEN SAREE. This embroidery adds a layer of texture and detail, highlighting the skill and artistry of Koppal’s weavers. The Koppal embroidery transforms simple khadi sarees into pieces of art, perfect for special occasions.

4. Bidri Work Motifs

Bidri work, a traditional metalcraft from Karnataka, influences khadi saree designs with its unique motifs. Bidri motifs include detailed patterns resembling floral designs and geometric shapes. These motifs are often subtly integrated into the saree’s design, adding a sophisticated touch that reflects the elegance of Bidri metalcraft. The integration of Bidri motifs offers a distinctive and refined aesthetic to khadi sarees.

5. Sagara Geometric Designs

The coastal region of Sagara inspires several geometric patterns seen in Karnataka khadi sarees. These motifs include checks, stripes, and diamond shapes, symbolizing the natural forms found in the coastal landscape. The Sagara geometric designs infuse BUY TISSUE WOVEN SAREE with a sense of freshness and modernity, while still celebrating the region’s natural beauty. These patterns are ideal for those who appreciate a minimalist yet elegant design.

6. Gadwal Borders

Gadwal, another prominent weaving town in Karnataka, is known for its traditional saree borders. The borders of Gadwal sarees often feature motifs inspired by local flora and fauna, intricately embellished with zari work or embroidery. These borders add a luxurious touch to khadi sarees, reflecting the opulence and intricacy of Gadwal’s weaving traditions. The Gadwal borders enhance the visual appeal of khadi sarees, making them stand out.

7. Karnataka Folk Art Inspirations

Karnataka’s rich folk art traditions also influence BUY TISSUE WOVEN SAREE. Traditional art forms such as Lambani embroidery, Kavad art, and Ganjifa card designs inspire vibrant and intricate patterns found on khadi sarees. These motifs often depict figures, animals, and symbolic elements, bringing a splash of cultural heritage to each saree. The folk art-inspired motifs add a vibrant and dynamic element to khadi sarees.

Conclusion

Karnataka khadi sarees are a treasure trove of traditional motifs, each reflecting the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions of the region. From the regal Mysore silk motifs to the lively Channapatna patterns, and the intricate Koppal embroidery, every design tells a unique story. Whether you’re drawn to the geometric elegance of Sagara designs or the luxurious Gadwal borders, Karnataka’s khadi sarees offer a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. Embrace the beauty and craftsmanship of these sarees and celebrate the timeless elegance of Karnataka’s weaving heritage.

[penkraft123]

Traditional Indian Art forms – Why are they disappearing?

TRADITIONAL INDIAN ART FORMS - WHY ARE THEY DISAPPEARING?

India has an amazing culture and history of different art forms and handicrafts. India is the hometown for more than 50 tribal and traditional folk arts. These folk arts of India have passed from generation to generation from over 3000 years. But lots of these traditions are about to disappear.

Folk art of India is a very respected and very important element of India’s Culture. It has been practiced and perfected by artisans' generations. The reason for disappearing these traditional Indian art forms is complex. There are lots of factors that have resulted in the disappearance of the traditional Indian Art forms.

Two major reasons for the disappearance of Traditional Indian form are westernization and Industrialization. The cultural identity of traditional art form, buyers, artists and beliefs have had a negative effect of westernization. This has changed in what was made for them, what they made, and how it was made. The lack of attention and interest about traditional art forms in current generation art collectors, in India as well as outside has led to disappointing situations where these arts are slowly disappearing.

Now talking about industrialization resulting in creating goods, longer lasting, cheaper and faster to the customers. Government is spending a lot to sustain and motivate the traditional art industry. They even require training in design, processes, products, material expertise and much needed awareness of international trends to come up with creative solutions.

Government’s organizational set up itself has very little scope for satisfactory profit margin for artists and craftsmen. This is discouraging the upcoming generations from ancestral to choose a traditional art form as a profession. New generation is not preferring this profession because of its low earning potential.

Telangana’s Cheriyal scrolls, Karnataka's the chittara, West Bengal’s the Dhokra, Rajasthan’s the Kavad , Andra’s Leather puppet and other art forms all are disappearing. Traditional art forms are all endangered because most of them aren’t making money and customers don’t want to do them. When considering the traditional art forms it includes carving, nirmal painting, wicker woven baskets. Nowadays design trends leaning towards modernism, the demand for traditional items is reducing. China and other Asian markets are now mass producing and supplying trendy natural materials everywhere that is disrupting the market size for artisan and craftsmen.

Traditional art needs to be saved for its original value and not just as an option to earn money. We need new ways to keep traditional arts alive by encouraging those who have passion for art but can’t afford it. The western art is replacing traditional art forms in our living rooms. While the traditional art form has maintained significant identity, It is eventually losing its relevance in the global and domestic art sphere.

By making sure that artisans get the major share of profit, not middle agents will encourage artisans. Consumers' interest in traditional art forms lives when the updated designs, quality, and skill of the craftsman are preferred over quantity and bad workmanship.

India with its diverse and very very rich traditional arts, must focus on the strength of artisans and getting best deals for their craftsmen in the international market by implementing better strategies.

Penkraft conducts classes, course, online courses, live courses, workshops, teachers' training & online teachers' training in Handwriting Improvement, Calligraphy, Abacus Maths, Vedic Maths, Phonics and various Craft & Artforms - Madhubani, Mandala, Warli, Gond, Lippan Art, Kalighat, Kalamkari, Pichwai, Cheriyal, Kerala Mural, Pattachitra, Tanjore Painting, One Stroke Painting, Decoupage, Image Transfer, Resin Art, Fluid Art, Alcohol Ink Art, Pop Art, Knife Painting, Scandinavian Art, Water Colors, Coffee Painting, Pencil Shading, Resin Art Advanced etc. at pan-India locations. With our mission to inspire, educate, empower & uplift people through our endeavours, we have trained & operationally supported (and continue to support) 1500+ home-makers to become Penkraft Certified Teachers? in various disciplines.

[peaudame]

Reference - Of all the portable shrines, the kavad is the most fascinating, as a narrative device and the sense of hiding/revealing through multiple panels.

[shaksh1206]

Business Storytelling

According to an article by HBR – Storytelling can make or Break your Leadership.

How many leaders in your organization are great storytellers?

History is full of evidence that the worlds greatest masters, leaders, influencers and change makers were great storytellers too. Storytelling is not to India though.  The Foundations of one of this oldest deep rooted civilization on earth seems to be storytelling. I often say that India is a land of stories. This could be the reason why, inspite of several attempts to uproot their culture, rituals, beliefs and places of worship, we still stand strong.

Why Storytelling is THE most powerful way of communication?

It’s a fact that we are fundamentally narrative creatures. Right from the time a toddler crawls and plays with toys on the ground and suppose he or she breaks something and you ask them – who broke this? and don’t be surprised if they reply saying that spiderman came from the window and pushed this glass and it broke. Without any formal training of storytelling, it seems that we are naturally wired to communicate through stories.

India and Storytelling

India has always had stories being told and retold in different ways, mainly through performances. Infact the whole tradition of this country has been through art and the literature embedded with stories, especially the ways the stories are told.

One such form of storytelling in India is the Pandavani.

Pandavani literally means stories or songs of the pandavas, the legendary brothers from the epic of Mahabharata. The storyteller in the Pandavani get so immersed in the story with flawless transitions from a male to a female and to a demon, the act can be rated nothing less than brilliance. The storyteller was infact the custodian of the tradition of the community, the rituals of the community and also the narratives of the community.

One more form of storytelling I am reminded of is the Yakshagana.

A semi classical dance drama that began more as an oral tradition but has today transformed into a classified form of enactments and songs. It’s a folk tradition in the southern part of India that is said to date 1600 years back. The enactments are stories of gods and goddesses and other beings in a way the audience can understand.

Another storytelling tradition in south India is the Nangiar Koothu, a powerful mesmerizing group that narrates the story in Sanskrit and re narrated in the local language like Malayalam with modern day living moral lessons. Kavad form of storytelling in northern India, Kathakali and kalamkari again in south India, Baul in Eastern India, and many many more.

 India, Mythology and Storytelling

India has some voluminous literatures like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvata, Puranas, Upanishad, folk stories to name a few. These stories were the foundations of the almost every society in India. The Master Disciple wisdom and knowledge transfer was mainly handed down to generations through stories. Maybe this verbal transfer of wisdom could be the very reason that the Indian culture stood and survived the attacks and destruction on its land, people and literatures. However let me also open up the flip side of these invasions. There was such a mockery made of this culture that stories were replaced by black and white texts. They had a silent agenda to belittle stories and anyone who would tell a story would be tagged a immature fool. To their success, this agenda worked so well that in India we lot at the word STORY from a made-up or fabricated negative connotation. “abbey story muth bol, dekh abb ye ek naya story bolega, chal suna tera story are dominant in local vocabularies. However, it is the west that once again popularized this word and it is spreading across the world like wild fire.

Can Storytelling help in Business?

Storytelling need not be confined to the framework of wisdom transfer in a social setup. Since storytelling is a powerful proven way to bond and connect with humans at the core level, we can pick up the art and science of storytelling and apply it to the business environment as well. Its just like saying that, if you know to play cricket with the leather ball in a stadium, you can very well play cricket with a tennis ball or a rubber ball on a small ground or even a small lane and ooze out the fun of playing.

So if you know the art and science of storytelling, you can introduce it to any other dimension of life, be it teaching, coaching, mentoring, training, leading, selling, business or even politics.

So where would business leaders learn storytelling?

So here we come to the point. Leaders need not necessarily have a huge stock of stories. To learn how to practice leadership storytelling, you can invite the master storyteller from Mumbai – India, Mr Mathew Thomas.

Mathew Says :

I tell Stories to simply wake up stories in other people. Every living being is a mountain of stories.

To learn and master the art and science of storytelling, it’s a great idea to connect with Mentora India’s Mathew Thomas and infuse this skill in your leadership team TODAY.

Hey, still unable to decide ? why not take a quick masterclass course on Udemy by Mathew Thomas. Its selling like a hot cake there.

Now with these two quick options, choose on any one. Happy storytelling.

To know more about the business storytelling workshop click here

[obsidian-space]

"KAVAD-KATHA" - UNIQUE PORTABLE SHRINES

"KAVAD KATHA" - It is a Portable Shrine or a Storytelling box, KAVAD is amazing in either way and represents the age-old craft originally practiced by a group of Jangid Brahmins near Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.

RELIGIOUS STORYTELLING ART FROM RAJASTHAN Well, call it a Portable Shrine or a Storytelling box, KAVAD is amazing in either way and represents the age old craft originally practiced by a group of Jangid Brahmins near Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. It’s a way of expressing Hindu devotions with the help of images of the Bhakti saints as well as stories of Ram and Krishna in a very interesting…

[fact2know-com]

Gods in face mask: Folk artists tackle Covid-19

Image copyright Dastkar

Image caption Apindra Swain’s artwork presentations mythological figures dressed in face mask

India’s distinguished people artists have launched a chain of artwork to unfold the message of social distancing and hygiene to stop the spreading of coronavirus, writes Sudha G Tilak.

Working all over the lockdown, which has now lasted greater than a month, a bunch of people artists and craftspeople throughout India have produced those illustrations and artwork in conventional kinds.

“Though many fear the impact of Covid-19 may be the end of craftspeople, it is their creativity and resilience that could save them,” Laila Tyabji, chairperson of Dastkar, India’s distinguished society for crafts and craftspeople, informed the BBC.

Since March, people artists who paintings with Dastkar have produced art work that put across the significance of social distancing, dressed in face mask, washing arms with cleaning soap and heading off team trip. There also are scenes depicting hospitals treating Covid-19 sufferers.

India’s people artists have lengthy used conventional artwork for social messaging.

“Traditionally many folk art forms in India were made on large scrolls or as murals to share information with the local community. Artists would hold up scrolls in village squares and share messages or generate awareness with visuals,” says Rhea Gupta, spokesperson of Dastkar.

Image copyright Dastkar

Image caption Ambika Devi’s artwork presentations other folks dressed in face mask

Ambika Devi is an artist from Rashidpur village within the northern state of Bihar.

She makes use of a tribal artwork shape known as Madhubani – which takes its title from a district within the state.

The artwork makes use of herbal pigments for color and are illustrations on partitions of houses and in trendy occasions on hand-crafted paper .

Madhubani portray has a geographical indication standing as it has remained confined to a compact geographical house the place the abilities had been handed on via centuries and the content material and magnificence have in large part remained the similar.

Ambika Devi’s artwork presentations other folks dressed in face mask and keeping up social distancing at village markets.

Image copyright Dastkar

Image copyright Dastkar

Image caption Prakash Joshi drew whilst he was once locked down in Bhilwara, a coronavirus hotspot

Phad portray is local to Rajasthan and dates again to medieval occasions.

They had been historically painted on huge fabric panels appearing royal scenes of festive processions and wars.

Prakash Joshi is a Phad artist from Bhilwara in Rajasthan, an early Covid-19 hotspot.

His artwork lift messages within the native language about keeping up social distancing and dressed in face mask.

Image copyright Dastkar

Image caption Apindra Swain drew this art work specifically for the BBC

Apindra Swain is a Pattachitra painter from Raghurajur within the japanese state of Orissa.

This artwork shape dates again to the fifth Century and is known for its brilliant hues and faces drawn in profiles the use of herbal colors. Her artwork display mythological figures dressed in face mask.

Image caption Dwarika Prasad’s panel presentations scenes in a clinic treating Covid-19 sufferers

Kavad artwork is a 400-year-old vibrant storytelling shape from the northern state of Rajasthan.

Artists illustrate and paint scenes on wood panels that appear to be tale forums that lift messages.

Dwarika Prasad, from Chittogarh district has painted a Kavad panel to turn scenes in a clinic treating Covid-19 sufferers.

Image caption Tulsidas Nimbark’s miniature presentations a saint sitting close to a bottle of liquid cleaning soap

Tulsidas Nimbark has painted within the 17th Century Rajasthani miniature custom.

It presentations the Hindu deity Krishna dancing in a lawn with a venerating saint dressed in a face masks and sitting close to a bottle of hand washing liquid cleaning soap.

All photos copyright

Source link

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[indiacitiesinformation]

Hari means Lord and Haridwar means abode to the world of Lord. Haridwar as the name suggests is the city that has religious significance. Pilgrims throng here to purify themselves after bathing in river Ganges.

The place occupies significant importance as pilgrimage spot in Hindu mythology. In fact it is regarded as one of the seven holiest places. Umpteen numbers of pilgrims gather around Har – Ki- Pauri ghat to experience the divine aura.

Another significance of this place is that Haridwar is one of the four places where drops of nectar fell from the pitcher that was being carried by Garuda and this place is named as Har- Ki- Pauri.  Also this place is said to give salvation to the ancestors. Here thousands of people take a dip in holy waters of Ganges.

Haridwar City India

Other places of attraction are Chandi Devi temple, Maya Devi temple and Manda devi temple which attracts many tourists. The renowned Kumbh Mela is organized every 12 years where mammoth numbers of pilgrims swarm the place from all over the world to be a part of this auspicious mela.

Also the city is perfect collage of rich cultural heritage and civilization. All the Hindu festivals – Diwali, Holi etc are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. The place gets bathed with colorful festivals and cultural activities viz. Kavad mela, Somvati Amavasya Mela, Ganga Dashara  etc all are celebrated with lots of zeal and enthusiasm. Traditional songs are sung by locals to offer prayer and love to the Almighty.

Climate of Haridwar is pleasant for many months of the year. As it is nestled at the foothills of Himalayas, the climate always remain warm all through the year. So this place can be visited any time during the year.

Haridwar has umpteen numbers of restaurants and eating joints. Being religious place non vegetarian food is strictly prohibited and the city has in its platter simple vegetarian foods that are hygienically prepared. Such simple yet tasty vegetarian food symbolizes piousness and purity of life.

The place being holy city has in its ambience spectrum of art and craft items, items having religious significance, wood carvings, stone carvings, brass utensils, wide range of decorative items and wide range of Ayurvedic products. Small stone made kitchen toys, idols of God are really worth a buy.

Tourists from all across the globe come here to witness the incredible Ganga Aarti at Har- Ki- Pauri Ghat. Every day during evening this Aarti is done to offer prayer to Goddess Ganga. This divine light ceremony is filled with song, prayer and rituals. During Aarti light lamps are offered to God and these lamps are left to float in the river Ganga. This sight of sparkling lamps with their reflection in the river mesmerizes every onlooker.

Haridwar – The Gateway to the Gods is perfect blend of rich cultural traditions and religious flavors and it takes pride in being one of the seven holy places of Hinduism. A visit to this place once in life period augments the spirituality and religiousness of the inner soul and body.

[penkraft123]

TRADITIONAL INDIAN ART FORMS - WHY ARE THEY DISAPPEARING?

India has an amazing culture and history of different art forms and handicrafts. India is the hometown for more than 50 tribal and traditional folk arts. These folk arts of India have passed from generation to generation from over 3000 years. But lots of these traditions are about to disappear.

Folk art of India is a very respected and very important element of India’s Culture. It has been practiced and perfected by artisans' generations. The reason for disappearing these traditional Indian art forms is complex. There are lots of factors that have resulted in the disappearance of the traditional Indian Art forms.

Two major reasons for the disappearance of Traditional Indian form are westernization and Industrialization. The cultural identity of traditional art form, buyers, artists and beliefs have had a negative effect of westernization. This has changed in what was made for them, what they made, and how it was made. The lack of attention and interest about traditional art forms in current generation art collectors, in India as well as outside has led to disappointing situations where these arts are slowly disappearing.

Now talking about industrialization resulting in creating goods, longer lasting, cheaper and faster to the customers. Government is spending a lot to sustain and motivate the traditional art industry. They even require training in design, processes, products, material expertise and much needed awareness of international trends to come up with creative solutions.

Government’s organizational set up itself has very little scope for satisfactory profit margin for artists and craftsmen. This is discouraging the upcoming generations from ancestral to choose a traditional art form as a profession. New generation is not preferring this profession because of its low earning potential.

Telangana’s Cheriyal scrolls, Karnataka's the chittara, West Bengal’s the Dhokra, Rajasthan’s the Kavad , Andra’s Leather puppet and other art forms all are disappearing. Traditional art forms are all endangered because most of them aren’t making money and customers don’t want to do them. When considering the traditional art forms it includes carving, nirmal painting, wicker woven baskets. Nowadays design trends leaning towards modernism, the demand for traditional items is reducing. China and other Asian markets are now mass producing and supplying trendy natural materials everywhere that is disrupting the market size for artisan and craftsmen.

Traditional art needs to be saved for its original value and not just as an option to earn money. We need new ways to keep traditional arts alive by encouraging those who have passion for art but can’t afford it. The western art is replacing traditional art forms in our living rooms. While the traditional art form has maintained significant identity, It is eventually losing its relevance in the global and domestic art sphere.

By making sure that artisans get the major share of profit, not middle agents will encourage artisans. Consumers' interest in traditional art forms lives when the updated designs, quality, and skill of the craftsman are preferred over quantity and bad workmanship.

India with its diverse and very very rich traditional arts, must focus on the strength of artisans and getting best deals for their craftsmen in the international market by implementing better strategies.

Penkraft conducts classes, courses online, courses, workshops, teachers' training & online teacher's training in Handwriting Improvement, Calligraphy, Abacus Maths, Vedic Maths, Phonics and various Craft & Artforms - Madhubani, Mandala, Warli, Gond, Lippan Art, Kalighat, Kalamkari, Pichwai, Cheriyal, Kerala Mural, Pattachitra, Tanjore Painting, One Stroke Painting, Decoupage, Image Transfer, Resin Art, Fluid Art, Alcohol Ink Art, Pop Art, Knife Painting, Scandinavian Art, Water Colors, Coffee Painting, Pencil Shading, Resin Art Advanced etc. at pan-India locations. With our mission to inspire, educate, empower & uplift people through our endeavours, we have trained & operationally supported and continue to support 1500+ home-makers to become Penkraft Certified Teachers® in various disciplines

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Business Storytelling

According to an article by HBR – Storytelling can make or Break your Leadership.

How many leaders in your organization are great storytellers?

History is full of evidence that the worlds greatest masters, leaders, influencers and change makers were great storytellers too. Storytelling is not to India though.  The Foundations of one of this oldest deep rooted civilization on earth seems to be storytelling. I often say that India is a land of stories. This could be the reason why, inspite of several attempts to uproot their culture, rituals, beliefs and places of worship, we still stand strong.

Why Storytelling is THE most powerful way of communication?

It’s a fact that we are fundamentally narrative creatures. Right from the time a toddler crawls and plays with toys on the ground and suppose he or she breaks something and you ask them – who broke this? and don’t be surprised if they reply saying that spiderman came from the window and pushed this glass and it broke. Without any formal training of storytelling, it seems that we are naturally wired to communicate through stories.

India and Storytelling

India has always had stories being told and retold in different ways, mainly through performances. Infact the whole tradition of this country has been through art and the literature embedded with stories, especially the ways the stories are told.

One such form of storytelling in India is the Pandavani.

Pandavani literally means stories or songs of the pandavas, the legendary brothers from the epic of Mahabharata. The storyteller in the Pandavani get so immersed in the story with flawless transitions from a male to a female and to a demon, the act can be rated nothing less than brilliance. The storyteller was infact the custodian of the tradition of the community, the rituals of the community and also the narratives of the community.

One more form of storytelling I am reminded of is the Yakshagana.

A semi classical dance drama that began more as an oral tradition but has today transformed into a classified form of enactments and songs. It’s a folk tradition in the southern part of India that is said to date 1600 years back. The enactments are stories of gods and goddesses and other beings in a way the audience can understand.

Another storytelling tradition in south India is the Nangiar Koothu, a powerful mesmerizing group that narrates the story in Sanskrit and re narrated in the local language like Malayalam with modern day living moral lessons. Kavad form of storytelling in northern India, Kathakali and kalamkari again in south India, Baul in Eastern India, and many many more.

India, Mythology and Storytelling

India has some voluminous literatures like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvata, Puranas, Upanishad, folk stories to name a few. These stories were the foundations of the almost every society in India. The Master Disciple wisdom and knowledge transfer was mainly handed down to generations through stories. Maybe this verbal transfer of wisdom could be the very reason that the Indian culture stood and survived the attacks and destruction on its land, people and literatures. However let me also open up the flip side of these invasions. There was such a mockery made of this culture that stories were replaced by black and white texts. They had a silent agenda to belittle stories and anyone who would tell a story would be tagged a immature fool. To their success, this agenda worked so well that in India we lot at the word STORY from a made-up or fabricated negative connotation. “abbey story muth bol, dekh abb ye ek naya story bolega, chal suna tera story are dominant in local vocabularies. However, it is the west that once again popularized this word and it is spreading across the world like wild fire.

Can Storytelling help in Business?

Storytelling need not be confined to the framework of wisdom transfer in a social setup. Since storytelling is a powerful proven way to bond and connect with humans at the core level, we can pick up the art and science of storytelling and apply it to the business environment as well. Its just like saying that, if you know to play cricket with the leather ball in a stadium, you can very well play cricket with a tennis ball or a rubber ball on a small ground or even a small lane and ooze out the fun of playing.

So if you know the art and science of storytelling, you can introduce it to any other dimension of life, be it teaching, coaching, mentoring, training, leading, selling, business or even politics.

So where would business leaders learn storytelling?

So here we come to the point. Leaders need not necessarily have a huge stock of stories. To learn how to practice leadership storytelling, you can invite the master storyteller from Mumbai – India, Mr Mathew Thomas.

Mathew Says :

I tell Stories to simply wake up stories in other people. Every living being is a mountain of stories.

To learn and master the art and science of storytelling, it’s a great idea to connect with Mentora India’s Mathew Thomas and infuse this skill in your leadership team TODAY.

Hey, still unable to decide ? why not take a quick masterclass course on Udemy by Mathew Thomas. Its selling like a hot cake there.

Now with these two quick options, choose on any one. Happy storytelling.

To know more about the business storytelling workshop click here