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Madai: A Forest Festival of Gods, Drums and Dancing
Deep in the forests of India, under a canopy of sal and teak that feels old enough to keep secrets, the beat of the mandar drum rises to signal that the sacred is close at hand. This is Madai, the season when the gods leave their shrines to visit one another, and the forest villages […]
Blacksmith Craft: Tribal Ironwork of Madhya Pradesh
Deep in the villages of Madhya Pradesh, the ring of hammer on iron carries a blacksmithing tradition unmatched in skill and inventiveness, its methods passed from one generation to the next. Drawing on these inherited techniques, artisans give iron many singular forms. The craft begins at local mines, where iron ore is drawn from the […]
Mangalagiri: The Andhra Town That Weaves Its Own Reputation
The road south out of Vijayawada runs into the flat, green heart of Guntur district, and at the end of it sits Mangalagiri. Most visitors arrive for the temple. They leave talking about the cloth. The two turn out to be part of the same story, and understanding the connection changes the way the whole […]
Banjara Needle Craft
Across Andhra Pradesh, the bright, mirror-flecked embroidery of the Banjaras is hard to miss, the needlework of nomadic tribes as vivid as their way of life. Embroidery in this technique is full of life and rich colour. The Banjaras of Andhra Pradesh express their vivid way of life through festive, richly decorated clothing. Banjara needle […]