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Bronze Sculptures
Studios in Chatarahadi, Bharmaur and Bojora have
produced several beautiful bronze sculptures in the past. |
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Dalshone and Cholamba
Dances
These dances belong to the Ropa valley and in these the patterns formed by the dancers look similar to coiled serpents.
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Dand Ras and Dangi Dances
The Dangi dances is a dance form of the Chamba area. It is performed at festivals, weddings and during Jatara by the Gaddi
women, in lines and semi circular patterns.
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Demon Dance
These dances from the Kinnaur area are reminiscent
of the pre-historic period.
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Embroidery
Embroidery seems to be the favourite pastime of pahari
women, their nimble fingers busy with needle and thread on lazy
afternoons.
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Garments & Accessories
Himachalis simply love to dress up. Their everyday wear is so colourful that you'd think that they were dressed up for a festive occasion.
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Jataru Kayang
As the musician play upon their instruments the leader of the dance, dances with a traditional Charmer in his hands the charmer becomes a great source of resentment and leads to fights among the dancers.
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Jewellery
Jewellery is still a popular product of the Himachal
silversmiths. And although the designs are still traditional,
the ornaments are lighter and more practical. |
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Jhoori,Gi, Swang Tegi and Rasa Dances
The Gee dance of Sirmaur is performed during the festival of Lohri. Singers stand in a curve with instrumentalists while individual dancers (boys or girls) rise one by one to dance to the music.
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Kangra School of Paintings
Under the ambitious Sansar Chand (1775-1823), the Kangra School flourished happily. It is said that Sansar's love for a gaddi (a tribe of Chamba-Kangra region) maiden drove him to commission the paintings.
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Keekali and Bhangra
The Keekali (Kikli) dance is a dance of young girls and is danced playfully in twos. The girls hold hands crosswise and rotate fast on their toes, singing songs.
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Leathercraft
Traditional Chamba chappals (slippers), plain or embroidered, are exceptionally comfortable to wear.
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Mala Dance
The Kayang Mala dance is very admired in Himachal.
In this, the dancers dressed in their traditional finery, weave their
arms, together to form a sort of a criss-cross pattern so that, they
appear like beads in an intricately woven garland.
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Metalwork
Metalcraft is one of the most ancient and developed crafts of Himachal
Pradesh. The traditional metals are pure copper and silver. Local
craftsmenship in casting, ornamenting and engraving, show great skill,
delicacy and taste.
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Nagas
Kayang
The Nagas Kayang is a dance which copies the
movement of a snake. The Herki Kayang is faster in tempo and is danced
to a romantic song.
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Nati Dance
The Naati of Kullu is an all time favourite with the people. Dancers link their hands and move in step to varying rhythms (there are 13 styles in all).
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Nuala
Nuala is a folk dance of the Chamba valley. In this a garland is placed upon a pedestal as Shiva's garland and around it many dance dramas depicting scenes from the life of Lord Shiva are enacted.
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Painting
To say that HP has a rich tradition of painting
would be an understatement. While museums and art galleries preserve the
famous miniature paintings of the region, traditional ritual paintings
can be seen in most village houses, on the floors and walls.
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Rugs & Carpets
Brilliant hues, dragons, a garuda on a flowering tree and swastikas for luck are traditional patterns found on carpets from Himachal
Pradesh.
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Shan and Shabu Dances
These are two well-liked dances of the Lahaul valley people and are danced at the Buddhist Gompas
in the memory of the Buddha. |
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Shawls
Extremely fine and valuable shawls are a speciality of Himachal and Kashmir. They are greatly sought after by tourists from all over the world.
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Stonework
Thanks to the fair variety of stone found in this hilly region, stone carving has been explored to the fullest in Himachal. Numerous shikhara (spired)
stone temples dot the landscape. |
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The Kangra style of Paintings
The Kangra style is by far the most poetic and lyrical of Indian styles, says art historian J. C. Harle.His favourite
subject here is 'the idealization of woman, in flowing sari, head
half-covered with a shawl, demure but stately, passionate and shy'.
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Wood Carving
Forests all over the state abound in pine and
deodar, besides walnut, horse chestnut and wild black mulberry. Wood has
been used to great effect in temples and lavishly built palaces.
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