Art & Culture

From a ₹5.37-crore infrastructure project to a potential global destination for Rajasthan’s artisans, Kunda now needs a strong business, tourism and marketing strategy to turn public investment into sustainable livelihoods.

From six villages near Jaipur, more than 100 women artisans are transforming textile waste into handcrafted products while building a collective, women-owned enterprise

The Standing Committee on Finance (2025–26), chaired by Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, held detailed discussions in Udaipur on the welfare and social security of artisans and weavers, with a focus on endangered crafts, insurance, market access, producer companies, skill preservation and sustainable livelihoods.

A forthcoming exhibition, “Adiyogi Shiva in Vastu Shilpa: Tradition and Modernity,” at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy in New Delhi explores the journey of Indian craft heritage through traditional textiles, sculpture, Khadi and contemporary indigo art. The exhibition brings together craft traditions including Kalamkari, Pichwai, Ajrakh, Sajni Kantha and appliqué with contemporary interpretations…

India push to merge handicrafts and tourism has reached a major milestone with the establishment of Bihar first Craft Village in Jitwarpur. Known globally for Mithila painting, the village will now offer artists direct market access, improved infrastructure, and stronger livelihood support under the National Handicrafts Development Programme.

In the quiet town of Rohru in Himachal Pradesh, a young artisan is transforming traditional hand embroidery into a sustainable livelihood model. Kanika Atreta’s journey from a home based hobbyist to a workshop owner highlights the growing role of women entrepreneurs in preserving cultural heritage while creating employment opportunities in rural India.

India’s handicrafts sector continues to power rural livelihoods, but few crafts symbolize heritage and sustainable luxury like Kashmir Pashmina. With efforts led by the Craft Development Institute in Srinagar, the move to strengthen Geographical Indication protection is set to safeguard authenticity, boost artisan incomes, and preserve one of the country’s most celebrated textile traditions.