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Furniture |
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Indian furniture is regarded as prized because of its ethnic flavour.
Traditional Indian woodcarvers continue to follow the style of their
ancestors keeping traditional crafts alive.
Venkatagiris are saris of the Jamdani technique with stylized motifs
woven in half cotton and half gold threads.
Among the regional specialties, nothing can outdo Rajdsthani and
Gujarati woodcraft. The antique look and intricate craftsmanship
have kept the furniture in demand both in India and abroad. Carved
and decorated chests, chairs, cradles, low- tables and stools are
hard to resist. Each object is pleasing, whether inlaid with brass
sheet work, painted with dancing figures, or embellished with
hunting scenes. From Kishangarh, comes painted furniture of screens,
doors, caskets and chairs. The regions of Ramgarh and Shekhawati
specialize in ornamental wooden furniture with floral designs that
adorn projected niches and balconies of houses. Barmer and Jodhpur
produce the finest carved furniture in the state, which includes
windows, tables, beds, dining tables and chairs, sofa sets with
centre tables, couches, cabinets, dressing tables, screens, bars,
trolleys and other items of domestic use.
One can also find white metal furniture in the desert state. Metal
furniture has come from royal families in India that clad some
wooden furniture pieces with gold or silver sheets, especially for
ceremonial purposes. The concept became popular and gradually the
gold and silver was replaced by the white metal to make it
economically viable. Papier-mache, popular in some parts of the country, has been put to
skilful use by artisans in Rajasthan to manufacture unique and
attractive-looking pieces of furniture including chairs, couches,
benches and seats, cabinets and container shelves.
Sankheda from Gujarat is known for its colourful toys and wooden
furniture. Other Gujarati wood-crafted products include candle
holders, decorative tableware, wooden fruit, nut and salad bowls,
tray-cum-side table, dinner set, soup bowls and a range of cutlery.
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Cane & Bamboo |
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In India, cane and bamboo have since ancient times been an expression
of tribal art, providing them livelihood. Today the simple forms
adorn the homesof the rich in various forms including elaborate cane
furniture.
Utilitarian and decorative items are made from cane in different
styles and motifs, of which baskets and mats are the most popular.
Tripura and Bengal are famous for elegant screens and bamboo mats,
made from split bamboo. Assam, a state with abundant raw material,
has a large variety of beautiful products like baskets, mugs for
rice beer, hukkas, musical instruments and floor mats. Neighbouring
Arunachal Pradesh excels in cane and bamboo work too, producing
items such as cane belts. From Tamil Nadu, come the famed kora grass
mats. The most delicate mats are made in Kerala, where black and
white square bamboo boxes are also made in the same tradition,
making excellent gifts.
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From Spices to Coir |
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Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, is a treasure house of
craft items that include everything from carved rosewood to
decorative masks in papier-mache'. Fresh spices like cardamom,
cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace are available in bazars. Good quality
cashew nuts are popular buys. Kerala's prime produce is coir with
its centre in Alappuzha (also Alleppey). Bell metal vessels are
another attraction of the state. The shops dealing in these products
are mainly located on M. G. Road. |
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Eco-Friendly Products |
Even as India finds itself being swamped by consumerism and
mass-production, a counter movement is slowly gaining momentum.
Outlets in major metros of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore are offering
eco-friendly products. Auroville (from Pondicherry) and the People
Tree shop in Connaught Place, Delhi are two such instances.
The international -congregation at Auroville, Pondicherry whose
prime objective is a quest for peace and inner tranquillity, has
emerged as an integral part of the eco-friendly product revolution.
The range, apart from being branded to appeal to save-the-earth
instincts, extends from vegetable-dyed clothes made by tribals in
forests to natural and non-alcohol content fragrances, organic foods
to home decor made out of natural items.You'll find hand-made paper, paper tumblers made of ceramics, clay,
terracotta, paper lampshades, cloth and papier-maché toys, threads,
pots, pans, dishes, potpourri of exotic herbs and flowers.
Topping the buyer's list is the orange honey, gleaned from the
orchards on the slopes of Cherrapunjee and famed for its orange
flavour, consistency and sweetness. This is available in Manipur at
the Bara Bazar, run mostly by Khasi women, a tourist attraction in
its own right.
India is also known for the vast choices it offers for Ayurvedic
and herbal cosmetic products. Known names include Shahnaz Herbals,
Dabur, Ayur and Biotique. Aromatherapy products and essential oils
are genuine and competitively priced.
Incense sticks available all over India are perhaps the best value
for money a visitor can get. |
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Leather |
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Leather products are a popular buy amongst foreign visitors to India.
The most popular leather products are footwear and hand bags. In
major cities, there are shops specialising in leather wear from
jackets and gloves to luggage and office accessories. Contemporary
designs are available in Auroville, in the French-influenced state
of Pondicherry.
Footwear comes in a variety of traditional embroidery, brocade and
textile designs. Bright colours are used in the all time favourite,
the utilitarian Kolhapuri chappals of Maharashtra. Jaipur has the
longest tradition in classical footwear with the thickish shoes,
called Mojadis, decorated with silk, metal embroidery and beads.
Handbags in batik style with bold curves, and traditional motifs
come from Bengal. 'Kopi', a rather unusual water bottle from
Bikaner, is made from camel hide. Bikaner and Jaisalmer also have
decorative saddles for horses and camels, often used as decorations
in living rooms.
High raised leather seats with geometrical patterns, called pidis,
are made in Gujarat. Red leather embroidered with gold and silk is
unique to Madhya Pradesh and make great cushion covers. In
Hoshiarpur, Punjab, applique work is done with coloured leather
pieces. While leather with metallic gold or silvery finish is
available in Karnataka, articles such as wallets, pouches, handbags
and a wide range of belts are found aplenty in Chennai.
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Handicrafts |
Every State of India showcases its products at fixed rates at the
Cottage Industries Emporium in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai. Available are artefacts in bronze,
brass, ivory, marble or wood. You'll find statues, lamp shades,
chairs, delicate filigree work on ivory and silver, marble inlaid
with precious coloured stones, enamel work 'Kundan' or 'Meenakari'
jewellery of Rajasthan, silver from Orissa and pearls from
Hyderabad. Brasswork from Jaipur, black stylized vases and urns from
Pembarthi and the polished brass mirrors of Aranmula have today
evolved into design statements.
Everywhere in India one finds idols and statues in temples and on
the streets. It was natural that sculpting skills be developed. The
granite and bronze sculptures of South India have continued an
unbroken lineage from the Chola period dating back a thousand years.
The ever-popular Lord Ganesh, God of prosperity, assumes various
forms in each statue with innumerable materials from humble clay,
stone to metal.
Marble sculptures are found mostly in the north and one can pick up
a cornucopia of typical inlaid hand-moulded jars, plates, and
latticed panels. Boxes, plaques, bowls in sandstone and soapstone
can be picked up as you stroll along the colourful bazaars of south
India's towns. Blue-black phyllite is used by carvers in
Santhal-Parganas in Bengal. Art is eternal. From the primitive cave
paintings of Bhimbetka, to the cubist influenced M.F. Hussain, all
hues of India show up in galleries and shops. An interesting buy are
folk paintings from Madhubani, in which women paint symbolic
fertility pictures with natural pigments.
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Pottery Style in Use |
The popularity of ceramics can be seen from the numerous categories
and types one finds all over India. Functional, unsophisticated,
simple but attractive pottery shapes lay an emphasis on the dignity
of form. The most common clay object is the all-purpose kullar
(cup-like container) used for serving water or tea, sometimes
decorated with geometrical and floral designs. There are a variety
of objects specially produced for festive occasions, such as lamps
for Diwali, toys for Dusshera, pots (or seedlings at Sankranti and
colourful kalash (pots) for marriages. Many products are also used
for decoration and make great gifts. Some of which are Karigari
(design) pottery, ashtrays, flower-vases, tea sets, paperweights and
decorative animal figures.
Delhi is famous for its 'Blue' pottery that uses an eye-catching
Persian blue dye to colour the clay. Blue pottery is glazed and
high-fired which makes it tougher than the others. Another version,
the Jaipur blue pottery is unique. No cracks develop in it, making
it impervious and more hygienic for daily use. Some of this pottery
is semi-transparent and generally decorated with animal and bird
motifs. Decorative items such as ashtrays, vases, coasters, small
bowls and boxes for trinkets, are made using paste and fired at very
low temperature.
Not readily available outside Bengal, but of interest to the visitor
is the Mansa pottery of West Bengal. It represents the snake goddess
and is a quaint, double curved pot with a face painted on it.
Similarly the Dakshinirai pots, found in the Sunderbans area, are
round pots with a mouth signifying a crown. An outlet of studio
pottery is 'Valeries' in West Bengal, producing semi-handmade
earthenware and glazed tableware in various mud tones. Khurja, in
Uttar Pradesh, a three-hour drive from Delhi, is also well known for
its cheap but tough tableware. Produced on a mass scale, fired at
high temperatures, these pottery items retain their mud colour and
are in popular demand.
Rajasthan pottery has certain distinct characteristics. The mouths
of water pots are small, probably to prevent spilling when water is
being carried. Alwar is noted for its paper-thin pottery, known as
kagzi (paper) pottery. Goa's rich tradition, a blend of Indian and
Portuguese culture, has remained unique. This is best reflected in
the arts and crafts fashioned by the hands of Goan artists. Simple
yet intricately beautiful, abstract yet exquisite, these creations
are a mirror of Goa's perennial glory and beauty. While in Goa, one
can shop at 'Goa Handicrafts', Crafts Complex, Neugi Nagar, Rua de
Ourem, Santa Cruz Road, Panaji - Tel: 228157, 225328, ,228151
Fax:228158.
Interesting buys are the black pottery and chillum (clay pipe) from
Tamil Nadu. At Kottaikorai in Pondicherry, the slat-glazed pottery
has a texture of orange peel. Most of the painting is done before
firing and most of the items are utilitarian, starting with
candle-stands to water filters and tableware.
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A new India Shopping Experience |
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Indian metros are fast turning into havens for products symbolising a
Western lifestyle. Its generation X kids thrive on a staple diet of
Coke, Pepsi, Wimpy's and Macdonald's burgers and plenty of Baskin
Robbins ice creams. Frozen foods (fish, meats and vegetables),
tinned fruits and juices, ready to eat/cook packed stuff, jostle for
space on the shelves of food stores. Exotic fresh products like
broccoli, avocados, lettuce, celery and leeks vie for attention
along with their indigenous counterparts.
Nearly all international reputed wristwatches are available in India
now. They include Omega, Cartier, Citizen, Rado, Baume & Mercier,
Piaget, and Longines. Lingerie, swimwear and other accessories once
sourced from abroad, are freely available in major departmental
stores. Worth buying are high quality Nike, Reebok Adidas - leading
names in shoes and sportswear. Even the world famous baggage maker
Samsonite is available in Indian stores. RayBan and Killer Loop
occupy the top rung of the market for fashionable eyewear. This is
not restricted to any specific product. Mobile phones, pagers, handy
video games, cameras, VCP/Rs, electronic toys (besides stuffed, soft
ones), dish antennas, hi-fi music systems, CDs, home theatre
systems, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners have all made inroads into
homes at a fanatical pace.
With further liberalisation of India's free import policy implemented
recently, there is expected to be a greater influx of
internationally acclaimed brand names in the near future. |
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Mumbai - Shops till you Drop |
Cosmopolitan Mumbai is a shopper's paradise with an amazing diversity
of goods from expensive European antiques, local spices, electrical
goods and silks. Being the centre of the Indian clothing trade, it
caters to all styles and budgets. It is also home to a number of
tailors who will make clothes swiftly at a reasonable cost.
››Shops must see Places are-
Fashion Street, on M.G. Road between Cross Maidan and Azad
Maidan, is a row of market stalls selling export surplus garments.
Here one can get some good bargains. "Antique" Indian furniture is
available in Chor Bazaar (flea market). While the age of purchases
cannot be guaranteed, visitors should trust either their luck or
their eyes and haggle intensely.
For inexpensive quality gift items, the Central Cottage Industries
Emporium, Shivaji Marg, between Apollo Bunder and Regal, is open
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p m. The Oberoi and Taj Hotels
both have air-conditioned shopping arcades with an interesting range
of boutiques selling ready-made garments, handbags and jewellery.
No trip to Mumbai is complete without a visit to the Bazaars – Chor
Bazaar, Mutton Street, near Sir J.J. Road, for bric-a-brac,
furniture and junk. Zaveri Bazaar for jewellery, Dhaboo Street
Bazaar, Dhaboo Street, for leather goods and Crawford Market, Dr. D.
Navroji Road / Carnac Road, for fruits and vegetables. Markets are
generally open from 9.a.m. to 7 p.m. There are a number of open-air
second-hand bookstalls near the university, around Chowk Fountain.
Major shopping areas are Fashion Street, Colaba Causeway,
Pherozeshah Mehta Road, World Trade Centre at Cuffe Parade, Breach
Candy, Linking Road at Bandra. Departmental Stores such as Amarsons
at Breach Candy and Crossroads at Tardeo amongst many others, are
becoming increasingly popular, as is Cotton World at Colaba
Causeway. The Heera Panna Shopping Centre offers numerous choices
from garments, toys to watches and electronics. |
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Hyderabad - From Pearls to Happiness |
Every shopping area of the city has its mood and tone. Savour the true
Hyderabadi culture by shopping in the old city around the ancient
monument of Charminar to buy the famour Hyderabadi bangles, surma
(natural kajal) and gold lace. Lad Bazaar, the famous lane of
bangles, is an exciting bazaar, reminiscent of medieval marts. Ever
since the Nizam’s patronage of the pearl industry, Hyderabad has
remained the premier center for buying, sorting and selling of
pearls. Interestingly, the pearls come from Japan for polishing and
grading and are then patterned into strings, jewellery, or simply
sold by weight).
Around Charminar, is another item associated with the former royals
– bidri ware. It’s a fine art of inlaying silver into a jet allya
formed by lead, zinc and tin. Souvenirs in bidri include key rings,
cufflinks, vases and presentation boxes. You'll find hand-made paper, paper tumblers made of ceramics, clay,
terracotta, paper lampshades, cloth and papier-maché toys, threads,
pots, pans, dishes, potpourri of exotic herbs and flowers. Lepakshi,
the State’s handicrafts emporium on Gun Foundry Road, is the show
window for cottage crafts. It also has handlooms and hand-woven
fabrics such as Ikat, Pochampallis woven in both silk and cotton,
and the traditional art of Kalamkari-fabric painted in different
colours with a stylized pen. Fabric shops can be found on Nampalli
Road and Mukharam Jahi Road.
General Bazaar, has everything from pins to piano and from fabrics
to antiques. One can also get steel, brass and copper vesels, needle
work, craft paraphernalia, and great saris. Close by, is the Pot
Market. It’s a must visit for silver jewellery connoisseurs.
Somajiguda and Begumpet have numerous retail outlets for branded
gear, designers boutiques and home décor / interiors furnishings.
The two areas reflect the cosmopolitan culture of the city. Also
located here are three of the largest retail outlets of the twin
cities, Shopper’s Stop, Lifestyle and Pantaloons. There are also a
number of good restaurants to take a break in.
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Chennai- Madras Checks |
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Chennai (formerly Madras), the capital of Tamil Nadu, has some of the
best shopping bargains. South Indian cottons and silks from Chennai
and nearby Kanchipuram are some of the finest in India. Not for
nothing has the phrase 'Madras checks' become a synonym for the
Kanchi cottons which is one of the best in Indian cotton fabric. The
right place to pick up a wide range of this fabric in Chennai is the
Co-optex showroom on Netaji Subhash Bose Road, quite literally the
headquarters of South Indian handloom products.
Silks in an overwhelming range can be found at Park. On Anna Salai,
there are several state emporia, of which Kaveri (Karnataka
Emporium), Kairali (Kerala Emporium) and Poompuhar (Tamil Nadu
Emporium) are the best. The Victoria Technical Institute, also
located here, has a wide range of embroidered and crocheted linens
made by nuns as charity work. These include children's garments with
smocking embroidery. The store also stocks delicate cane work.
Poompuhar, the government emporium of Tamil Nadu, has cane mats,
wood elephants, woodcarvings (a perennial favourite is Ganesh) and
bronze figurines which the state is famous for. Most of these
figurines are copies of Chola originals, which represent a high
point in the cultural traditions of the state's history. Bronzes,
though expensive, are each an individual work of art, making them a
good buy. Chennai has become a flourishing centre for leather
garments and footwear. Since Chennai supplies most of its produce to
Western countries the shops stock the latest designs of the West.
Jackets, suede coats, bags, shoes and many other leather items are
available here. Spencer Plaza is India's largest Shopping and Office
Mall with over a million square feet building area. The shops are
well stocked and display international brands and labels in addition
to the domestic brands.
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