Arts and Crafts

The expertise of the artisans of Maharashtra can be seen in the fine art and craft finishes. The fine fabrics of mashru and himroo are the clear examples of their highest level of weaving art. The fabrics which looks like golden cloth are regarded to be one of the finest of its kind. The high level weaving know-how are also evident with the paithani and narayan peth sarees.

Bidriware is another well-appreciated craft of this state. It takes lots of skills and time in preparation. The district of Kolhapur gives two most famous things - jewellery and Kolhapuri chappals. Kolhapuri chappals are known for its quality, comfortability and low price. Then come the paintings of warli tribes of Mumbai. It is even compared to the famous paintings of Madhubani, Bihar.

Bidriware

Kolhapuri Chappals

Hand-made leather chappals and sandals of Kolhapur district of Maharashtra are world famous. These are popularly known as the Kolhapuri chappals, and known for its simple styles, quality of leather and design. Different artisans all over the district make these chappals.

Bhausinji Road of Kolhapur is known for its good variety of Kolhapuri chappals and other leather goods. Mahadwar and Shivaji roads are good places to shop. One can also buy around the bus station in the Rajarampuri area. Shetkaari Bazaar is the cheapest place to shop, and is popular amongst the villagers of the surrounding villagers.

Kolhapur Jewellery

Most of the Maharashtrian jewelleries are derived from the legacies of Maratha and Peshwa dynasties. Kolhapur is famous for its special type of necklace called Kolhapur saaj. This jewellery is very much special for Maharashtrian women. Har and malas, mohanmal, bormal, chaplahar, kolhapuri saaj, pohehar and putlihar are the jewelleries that are made in Kolhapur. These names are derived from the peculiar shapes of the jewelleries. Thushi, a choker with closely bound tiny gold beads, is very popular in Kolhapur.

Patlya (two broad bangles), Bangdya (four simple bangles) and Tode (two finely carved thick bangles) are hand wear ornaments for the women of Maharashtra. Chinchpeti (choker), Tanmani (short necklace) and Nath (nose ring) are the ornaments making with a combination of pearls and red and white stones. Another jewellery called bajuband (the amulet) is also a favorite. Flower-shaped earrings are very popular amongst Maharastrian women.

Mashru and Himroo

Himroo, also known as kum khuab is a distinctive, luxurious fabric, once used as dress material by the nobles of the olden days. The district of Aurangabad is popular because of these fine fabrics. These fabrics are made of cotton and silk using a special loom. The original form is made of silver and gold, and the threads of silver and gold were so fine that the final cloth is appeared like gold cloth.

In coarse of time, the original hand weaving fabric has changed to machine made. But a workshop in Aurangabad's Zaffar gate is continuing the conventional style of hand weaving. The workshop also maintains a show room to showcase these products. Here, one can see and shop Himru shawls and sarees. Bold patterns and colours are the specialities of Mashru fabrics. It is said that Marco Polo has been gifted a fabric woven in silk and gold threads.

Narayan Peth Saree

Narayan Peth saree is very much popular in and around Sholapur district of Maharashtra. It is the favourite for the women of this district. It is a traditionally Maharashtrian saree that weaves mainly in this district only. Narayan Peth saree is made of silk fabric. It is designed with the contrasting zari border, which is generally with rudraksha motifs.

Warli Paintings

Warli paintings are the tribal wall paintings of the warli tribes of Maharashtra. Warlis are the largest tribes of Maharashtra live in northern outskirts of Mumbai. Womenfolks mainly do the paintings on the mud walls of the houses. Warli painting, which is compared similar to the famous Madhubabi paintings of Bihar, is traced back to 10th century A.D. But it was first discovered only in the early seventies.

Warli paintings generally depict the normal life like images of human beings and animals, along with scenes from daily life. They also depict hunting, dancing, sowing and harvesting scenes. White is the only colour used in creating these paintings, with occasional dots in red and yellow. This colour is prepared by grounding rice into white powder.

Paithani Saree

Paithani saree took its name from a place called Paithan, where it started producing 2000 years ago. This saree is made of silk with an ornamented zari pallav and border. Traditional vines and flowers, shapes of fruits and stylized forms of birds are used as motifs in this saree. No mechanical means like the jacquard or jala are used to create the designs in Paithani sarees.

Making a saree is a long process; it takes a long time completing a piece. And it also needs lots of hard work and expertise to make this fine fabric. So, price of this painstaking workman ship is always high. Nearly a month's time is spent in completing a piece of simple Paithani saree, and from five to nine months is spent to complete its more elaborate (brocade) version.