The holiday season is upon us, as are the delights of traditional festivals, wedding affairs and visiting family and friends. Preparing the right gifts for these occasions always gets us in a tizzy.

So, this season, look no further than Rajasthan, long renowned for its astonishing crafting traditions, which we can plunge into for all manner of gifts for our loved ones, for all budgets.

Textiles

Close to Jaipur, the block printing heritage of Sanganer’s florals and Bagru geometric designs finds voice in a variety of ways…not just apparel, dupattas and sarees. What is so precious about this tradition is that the design vocabulary is so varied and appealing it’s now replicated on stoles, scarves, upholstery. and home linens—think quilts, quilt covers, bedspreads, curtains, cushion covers, tablecloths, placemats, runners, napkins…bags…the lot. Some clever ones have even created lampshades to match the theme of a room.

Blue pottery

This unique offering is a wonderful way to transport you to Jaipur, which has played host to internationally renowned artist Kripal Singh Shekhawat’s studio, responsible for keeping this Persian-inspired craft alive down the decades since the 60s.  The secret of its azure/turquoise/cobalt blue beauty lies in it being made from quartz rather than traditional clay. The dough from which blue pottery is created consists of a mix of quartz stone powder, powdered glass, Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth), borax, gum and water. Hand painted animal and bird motifs provide that extra heft to the allure of each artefact…ranging from, tiles, doorknobs, coasters, plates, vases, ashtrays, mugs, boxes, bathroom sets etc. The Jaipur Blue Pottery Art Center on Amer Road even holds small demos of the craft.

Minakari Jewellery

Jaipur’s artisanal wealth has been enhanced by its longstanding expertise in jewels and gemstones. Royal patronage has played a significant role in keeping this tradition a vibrant part of its crafting traditions.

The delicate craft of minakari or enamel work jewellery has been the forte of its highly accomplished artisans. While Varanasi has been famed for its pink minakari, Jaipur has a long history of red and green minakari.

Kundan Jewellery

Highly popular, kundan is much heavier than minakari jewellery.  Set in gold leaf the uncut diamonds are just exquisite and perfectly paired with sarees or lehengas for festive occasions. Lovely gift for a new bride. Go for the neckpieces which feature mina work at the back. Gorgeous!

Gemstones

Jaipur has been one of the world’s major hubs for gem cutting and polishing. Choose your favourite stone to be set in a pendant, earrings or rings as a special gift for yourself this season! Check out Gem Palace, Johari bazaar etc in Jaipur.

Paintings 

The pichwai paintings of Udaipur have even found their way to some world museums. This unique art form came into being as a painterly backdrop to the image of Lord Krishna in his temple at Nathdwara. Check out the small bazaar here, where you can watch artisans at work, to pick up the ones you like best.

Furniture 

Jodhpur has been a popular hub for items created from wood. Teamed with beaten brass, some creations such as tables, chowkis, cupboards, jharokas, stools, miniature chest- of-draws, trays, etc, make for lovely giveaways, or even for your own home. These kinds of items also come painted in various hues with or without metallic accents.

Dhurries and Rugs

Both Jodhpur and Jaipur are also a great resource for floor coverings. Salawas village, 20km from Jodhpur, is an old nucleus for this craft. You can pick up traditional hand-woven durries as well as intricate hand-knotted wool carpets. Also available are hand block carpets and rugs as well as printed durries. Floral and geometric designs tend to dominate the canvas. Few are aware that traditionally dhurries in Rajasthan used to be made of camel hair and sheep wool, instead of wool and cotton which have gathered customers from home and abroad.

Usta art

Bikaner is venerated for its unique Usta art or Naqqashi and Mannati art works introduced in the 16th and 17th centuries. This art form was used to decorate the walls and ceilings of the Junagadh fort of Bikaner by artisans who were brought in from Multan and Persia during the times of Raja Rai Singh. Originally delineated on hard bases with accents and motifs embossed in gold plate, it was increasingly used on camel leather and wood.  You’ll often now find it replicated on walls and mirror frames, camel leather bottles, photo frames, bags, lamp shades, vases, furniture etc.

This is all but a tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper and uncover your own special favourites from the treasure trove of superb, time-honoured crafting offerings across Rajasthan.