Our rich heritage and culture is well embedded in our crafts and in folk. Indian folk and craft is full of variation and multiplicity in terms of themes, forms, and styles. The folk forms have contributed significantly in the development of the classical forms of the country. SPIC MACAY conducts various folk performances like Baul, Pandavani, Ottanthullal, Yakshagana, Qwwali etc all over the country to inspire the youth. Different craftsmen continue to influence our heritage with various crafts such as Puppetry, Painting, Carving and Fabric Colouring etc.
During International, National and State conventions SPIC MACAY organizes various folk and craft work shops under great Gurus. So far it played a successful role in preserving and propagating the rich folk and craft tradition. Taking part in a work shop inspires and improves the learning relationship between a Guru and a pupil. Over time one develops a passion for learning more. This spirit of enquiry increases one’s capacity to receive long and arduous training to put in more effort to seek perfection.
A few Folk & Crafts:
Pandavani
Pandavani is a folk singing style of musical narration of tales from ancient epic Mahabharata with musical accompaniment and Bhima as hero. This form of folk theatre is popular in the state of Chhattisgarh and in the neighbouring tribal areas of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
Bauls
The Bauls of Bengal were an order of musicians in 18th, 19th and early 20th century India who played a form of music using a khamak, ektara and dotara. The word Baul comes from Sanskrit batul meaning divinely inspired insanity. They are a group of Hindu mystic minstrels. Bauls travel in search of the internal ideal, Maner Manush (Man of the Heart).
Karagattam
Folk dance of Tamil country, the villagers perform this dance in praise of the rain goddess "Mari Amman". In this dance, the performers balance the water pot on their head very beautifully. Traditionally, this dance is performed in two types - Aatta Karagam is danced with decorated pots on the head and symbolizes joy and happiness, while the Sakthi Karagam is performed only in temples and is mainly danced for entertainment.
Yakshagana
is a classical dance drama popular in the state of Karnataka . This theater art involves music,
songs, dance, acting, dialogue, story and unique costumes. While songs and dance adhere to well-established talas very similar to classical Indian dance forms, acting and dialogues are created spontaneously on stage depending on the ability of artists. This combination of classical and folk elements makes yakshagana unique from any other Indian art. It would be considered a form of opera in western eyes.
Puppetry
A puppet is one of the most remarkable and ingenious inventions of man.Stories adapted from Puranic literature,local myths and legends usually from the content of traditional puppet theatre in India which in turn imbibes elements of all creative expressions like painting,sculpture, music, dance, drama etc. Different types of puppetry are seen across India. String puppets, Shadow puppets. Glove puppets etc. String Puppets -Marionettas having jointed limbs controlled by strings allow far greater flexibility and are, therefore, the most articulate of the puppets.
Shadow Puppets –are flat figures. They are cut out of leather, which has been treated to make it translucent. Shadow puppets are pressed against the screen with a strong source of light behind it.
Glove Puppets are also known as sleeve, hand or palm puppets. The head is made of either papier mache, cloth or wood,with two hands emerging from just below the neck.
Weaving
It is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Cloth is usually woven on a loom, a device that holds the warp threads in place while filling threads are woven through them.
Bamboo Crafts
The essential tools required fro bamboo consists of a ‘dao’ (billhook), a knife and a jak. The manufacture of cane and bamboo products are mostly carried on outdoors.
Madhubani Painting
Madhubani painting or Mithila painting is a style practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar. Painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens and match sticks, using natural dyes and pigments and is characterized by eye- catching geometrical patterns.
Pattachitra Paintings
The Sauras, one of the most ancient tribes of Orissa, find mention in Hindu myths, classics and even the Puranans and are noted for their Pattachitra paintings. These paintings are inspired by the Bhakti movement. They are mainly on the religious subjects that revolve around Lord Jagannath at Puri’s famous Jagannath Temple. They are known for their bold lines and brilliant colours.
Paper Mache
It is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, reinforced with an adhesive, such as glue, starch or wall paper waste.Two main methods are used to prepare papier- mache; one makes use of paper strips glued together with adhesive and the other method uses paper pulp obtained by soaking or boiling paper to which the adhesive is added. The traditional method of making papier mache adhesive is to use a mixture of water and flour or such starch, mixed to the consistency of a heavy cream.
Block Printing
Block printing has been practiced all over India since the 12th century. Block printing employs wooden or metal blocks to print designs and patterns on fabric , by hand.
Kalamkari Painting
It is a beautiful art form of Andhra Pradesh. It refers to a method of painting natural dyes onto cotton or silk fabric. Kalamkari literally means, Kalam (pen) and kari (work) , which means art work done using a pen.
Bandhej Tie and Dye
Bandhani is a type of tie-dye practiced mainly in the states of Rajastan and Gujarat, India. The term bhandhani is derived from the word ‘banda ‘(to tie).
Terra Cotta
Terracotta is a type of earthern ware, a clay based glazed or unglazed ceramic manufactured across different regions of India. Clay figures are also made in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry where traditionally, each village is guarded at its entrance by an enormous terracotta horse which belongs to Lord Aiyyanar who is the protector against all evils.