Shopping in Rajasthan
The state, that is Rajasthan, is famous all over the world for its unique culture
and traditions. The medieval period, especially the last few centuries, have left
an incredible impression upon the coming generations. The arts and crafts, monuments,
traditional practices and the distinctive outlook gives it an identity of its own
One can bring home a good experience and some great souvenirs from this popular
state. Exquisite furniture, leather products, pottery, metal craft, textiles, jewellery
are some of the treasures you can buy from the markets of Rajasthan.
The popular artifacts and antiquities, though available at large in the state, but
every city or town has some artifacts or antiquity which accounts for the speciality
of its markets. Different cities as such are known to provide different articles.
Some popular shopping artifacts of Rajasthan have been given below:
Blue Pottery | Carpets and Dhurries |
Jaipuri Razai | Jewellery |
Leatherwear | Metal Crafts | Paintings |
Puppets | Textiles | Woodworks
Blue Pottery
Blue pottery is an art form from Persia and was introduced in Rajasthan under the
patronage of Maharaja Ram Singh. Blue pottery is new art form with a fascinating
recipe of distinctive material like the ground quartz stone. The color schemes are
also peculiar like, blue (oxide of cobalt), Green (oxide of copper) and the external
white.
Some of the pottery is semi- translucent and lately is been experimented with other
colors such as, yellow, dark blue and brown. The conventional floral or arabesque,
hand made patterns and the animal figure patterns are the prominent designs. The
various articles shaped out are mostly the traditional ones like surahis or pots
of different shapes and size for multiple use, ashtray, tiles, flower pots, lamp
shades, jars various accessories or interior items are the forte of this art of
pottery.
Carpets and Dhurries
The dhurrie, a simple rug that was once used as an underlay, has now become one
of the state's best known weaving traditions. Weavers sit on looms in villages,
creating an interesting blend of patterns- mostly geometric, sometimes floral- in
an exciting combination of colours.
Made from cotton yarn, in areas such as Bikaner and Jaisalmer, the camel-hair, woolen
dhurrie too is available. In areas around Tonk, namdahs or felted rugs are manufactured.
Jaipuri Razai
Rajais Jaipur is famous for its `Rajais' (A type of light quilt stuffed with cotton).
You can get colourful & soft `Shaneel ki Rajai' in velvet finish. These are quiet
warm, soft and long lasting. You can shop in the main market area. But remember
to bargain.
Jewellery
Rajasthan is the home place of some of the most amazing hand crafted jewelry. Also,
the hand-cut gems industry has one of the world's biggest centers in Rajasthan.
This state provides India with some important precious and semi precious stones.
Other famous works of Rajasthan include Silver smithy, Lac works, Kundan work, Minakari
work, Enameled gold jewellery, etc.
Jaipur market holds the monopoly in the jewellery houses all over India and in the
global arena too. This colorful market is popular as the name of Johari Bazaar which
ranks among the most exclusive jewellery markets in the world. The variety of ranges
is beyond compare and not only does it cater for the elites or the high socialites
but a vast collection of semi-precious and silver creations are at display in reasonable
prices too.
An exclusive Rajasthani traditional work of art is of setting precious stones (diamond
chips, precious gems) in solid 22-carat gold, the design and workmanship is beyond
compare. It is famous of Jaipur and Jodhpur.
Leatherwear
One of the most attractive items of leather is the 'Mojari', a footwear. The Leather
is embroidered, punched, studded and stitched in various eye catching designs. The
best known centres of traditional footwear are Jaipur and Jodhpur. Articles like
lamps and lampshades are coloured and decorated with floral designs and figures
and plated with thin gold leaf work.
Cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer are famous for Jooties, musical instruments
(like Tabla, Dhol, Dhapli), stringed instruments (Kamayacha) made out of leather.
Bikaner is best known for its painted Lampshades, shields, vases, Mojharies made
out of camel hide. Hard Bag, belts, hats, chairs, foldable chairs with graphic embroideries
are from Tilonia.
Metal Crafts
The metal crafts of Rajasthan comprises of artistic, enamelled and engraved silverware
& metalware. Popular creations in silver include wine cups, silver embossed decorative
boxes, decorative human figures, cigaratte lighter cases and photo frames.
Jaipur is famous for engraved brassware which is usually enamelled. Different decorative
techniques used inclide embossing, marodi work an chikan work. In Koftagari or Damascening
work, mostly practised in Alwar and Jaipur, one metal is encrusted into another
in the form of a wire. Popular articles are swords, daggers and shields.
Paintings
The miniature paintings of Rajasthan are renowned the world over. Over a period
of time several schools of painting developed in Rajasthan : the Mewar School, Bundi-Kota
Kalam, Bikaner, Jaipur, Marwar and Kishangarh schools. It is believed that miniature
paintings were being made in Rajasthan as early as the 18th century and later the
Mughal court employed the artists.
Jaipur is famous for engraved brassware which is usually enamelled. Different decorative
techniques used inclide embossing, marodi work an chikan work. In Koftagari or Damascening
work, mostly practised in Alwar and Jaipur, one metal is encrusted into another
in the form of a wire. Popular articles are swords, daggers and shields.
Today, families engaged in miniature paintings exist in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Nathdwara
and Kishangarh and continue to paint fine works of art on handmade paper. The ancient
tradition of scroll painting survives in Rajasthan as Phadas and Pichwais in bold
vigorous lines and bright primary colours displaying much of the ancient Indian
tradition of narrative painting.
Puppets or Kathputli
Rajasthani Puppets are string marionettes that originate from the state of Rajasthan
in India.These handmade wooden puppets are much more than just plaything or decorative
dolls. They are a part of the traditional performance of puppetry – narrating an
event from history, myths, folklore or legend, complete with music and speech. They
are the repository of traditional wisdom, knowledge and social mores. Within them
are contained the oral history of the region.
The puppets are controlled by a single string that passes from the top of the puppet
over the puppeteers. Characteristic to this form are the shrill voices produced
by the lead puppeteer which are spoken through a bamboo reed. The art of Rajasthani
puppetry (also called Kathputli) originated a thousand years ago when the Bhat community
began to practice this art.
The Rajasthani string puppets are unique in their own ways. These gorgeous and colorful
puppets are hand carved using wood and cloth. The head of the puppets are made out
of wood and colored according to characters they depict in the episodes.
Textiles
The Textile of Rajasthan has a fascinating range of dyed and block printing fabrics.
Each state has its own special colour-scheme design and technique.
Rajasthani textiles come in an attractive range of hand-block prints, tie & dye,
embroidered fabrics with mirror work. The art of Khari or over printing in gold
is also practised here. The Bandhni or tie & dye work comes from Sikar, Jodhpur,
Udaipur, etc. Light and painstakingly printed Kota Doria sarees are a range with
women during the hot summer season.
Handblock printed bedspreads in Ajrak prints come from Barmer, sarees, wraps & Kerchiefs
from Nathdwara and embroidered textiles from Bikaner and Barmer.
Woodworks
Wood - sometimes plain often painted - is used to make everything from furniture
to artefacts. While the furniture ranges from the made-as old that is such a range
all over the world, its contemporary variants include chairs with painted backs,
camel-hide stools, marble-top tables and carved cabinets.
Artifacts include a range of animal - horses ,elephants, parrots- that are beautifully
painted as well as boxes, chests snuff boxes and other interesting paraphernalia
including dancing figurines and dwarpals or guardians of the doors.