A Day Visit to the Delhi Crafts Museum

I had ventured out this Saturday, a bright sunny morning for some work....having few extra hours in hand I stumbled upon one of Delhi's best kept secrets!! Opposite Puran Qila, the Delhi Crafts Museum takes you to a completely different world, far from the maddening Delhi crowd....the pleasant environment, exquisite artefacts, chirping birds leave an ever lasting impression on you that will always want you coming back for more!! :)

As you enter the first thing that strikes you are the Walls...all the walls of the Museum are adorned by beautiful paintings distinct to various Indian regions. Below are few pics that I'm sure will get your artistic buds tingling!!

The entrace door is inspired by the 'Phad' painting style of Rajasthan 

 The ceiling interior shows 'Mandana' painting of M.P.

Bhil Painting, M.P

 Shekhavati Paintings, Rajasthan

Gond Painting, M.P.

Kalam Kari Painting

Muriya Painting, Bastar, Chhattisgarh

Warli Painting, Maharashtra

I found this the most interesting of all the Wall paintings. Pattachitra depicted in total 64 miniature paintings of various 'Kalas' or Art.

Moving ahead, you can catch a glimpse of various artisans hard at work....potters, weavers, masons etc their art showcased alongside. 

Traditional jwellery

Kantha Work Stoles and Shawls

Terra Cota pieces

The most fascinating experience was seeing the Village Complex, Village huts, bullock carts etc have been re-created in about 3000 sq ft. to give the visitor a glimpse of the Village India.You can relax under the shade of trees and admire the work and transport yourself to the simple village life.

Gond Hut, Mandla district, M.P.

Konyak "Morung" or traditional men's houses of the Konyak Tribe of North Nagaland

Kulu Hut, typical of the Mandia area of Kulu region, H.P.

 

Walls being plastered with fine mud, known as 'Lipai'

 "Chirp...Chirp...Tweet....Tweet"

I left this place feeling so refreshed and I will be definitely going there again...I still have to explore their gallery, library and souvenir shop. I don't know how to describe this feeling but seeing the artisans at work, making such exquisite things, I felt a keen sense of pride in the Indian Handicrafts culture. Let's do our bit in encouraging and promoting these arts....Spread he word...Spread the Joy...Help makeitbeautiful!! *Love*

"
WEAVERS, weaving at break of day, 
Why do you weave a garment so gay? . . . 
Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild, 
We weave the robes of a new-born child.

Weavers, weaving at fall of night, 
Why do you weave a garment so bright? . . . 
Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green, 
We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.

Weavers, weaving solemn and still, 
What do you weave in the moonlight chill? . . . 
White as a feather and white as a cloud, 
We weave a dead man's funeral shroud. 
                                                                    "
Indian Weavers by Sarojini Naidu