1. Dharmavaram Pattu and pavvada sarees
Dharmavaram is a famous silk hub in the district of Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh. Silk sarees weaved here are world famous and are even exported to various countries including France and Germany. In fact, it is one of the best places to shop for ethnic and stylish saris in the country. Dharmavaram Sarees are traditionally woven in the interlocked-weft technique. The design required on the saree is initially drawn on computer and then punched into a card. These cards are then loaded in Jacard in the loom. First the yarn is loaded as warp and then loaded into the loom. The weavers use both their hands and legs to weave the Saree. It requires approximately 4-8 days of continuous efforts of two persons for weaving a saree depending on the variety of the saree being weaved. Broad borders with solid colors and contrasting pallus woven with intricate golden zari brocade, Dharmavarma silk sarees are most attractive and desired wedding sarees. Every day wear sarees comprise of simpler patterns with the specialty of being woven in two colors that give an effect of muted double shades accentuated by the solid color border and pallu. Besides south-silk, one finds sarees in various other materials like cotton, tussar silk, cotton silk, etc. The variety of handlooms range from cushion covers to bed sheets and curtains to carpets but the primary focus is on handloom silk and cotton sarees.
2. Mangalagiri Sarees
These are Produced by performing handicraft weaving in Mangalagiri, a town in Guntur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Mangalgiri silk sarees, Mangalgiri cotton sarees and Mangalgiri silk cotton saris are unique variety of sarees that are woven from cotton and silk. Possessing the most characteristic features such like zari on the border and no woven designs on the body, Mangalagiri sarees are produced on pitlooms from combed yarn by warp and weft interlacing. Cotton yarn is boiled in water and caustic soda for a couple of hours before it is suitable for dyeing. If the yarn is to produce white colored sarees, then it is bleached before weaving, else for coloring chemical dyes are used. After dyeing, the yarn is then sun dried before it is all set for the weaving process. The fabric then undergoes the process of dyeing. The Nizam design is another characteristic of Mangalgiri sarees. While Mangalgiri sarees make pleasing summer wear, since the town is also the abode of Lord Narasimha Temple, these sarees are also used by the devotees for devotional purposes.
3. Uppada jamadani sarees
Uppada Sari is a sari style woven in Uppada of East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was registered as one of the geographical indication from Andhra Pradesh by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Uppada Jamdani saris are known for their light weight.
The name Jamdani in the Uppada Jamdani Sari is a Persian terminology, in which Jam means flower and Dani means Vase.
4. venkatagiri sarees
The history of the sari dates back to the early 1700's during the rule of Venkatagiri. They were encouraged by the Velugoti dynasty of Nellore and also by the Bobbili and Pithapuram dynasties. In those days, they were mostly weaved for queens, royal women and Zamindaris.
Venkatagiri Sari is a sari style woven in Venkatagiri of Nellore district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was registered as one of the geographical indication from Andhra Pradesh by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.Venkatagiri saris are known for their fine weaving. These style of saris can also be found in the villages of Sengunthapuram, Variyankaval, Elaiyur, Kallathur, Andimadam and Marudhur villages.
5. Srikalahasti Kalamkari
6. Machalipattanam Kalamkari
Masulipatnam is about 200 miles from Hyderabad. The Kalamkari artisans of this town worked usually for Persian and Egyptian clientele. Thus, the design themes were usually about nature. You can see motifs that have intertwined elements like flowers, leaves, climbers and trees intricately painted to fill the whole fabric. Along with this, the Masulipatnam Kalamkari uses block printing more than hand painting. The pen used is sharp enough to paint the boundaries of elements finely. The process of Masulipatnam Kalamkari Painting requires 17 steps.
7. Buditi bell and brass craft
Budithi Bell and Brass Craft are the products made out of alloy like brass at Budithi, a village in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
8. Kondapalli Bommalu
It is very famous for Kondapally Toys known as Kondapalli bommalu. The toys are chiseled from locally available special light softwoods (Tella Poniki) and painted with vegetable dyes, and vibrant enamel colours. They are world famous artistic wonders. They are made by local wooden and lay artisans. The most popular toys include Dasavatarams (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) elephants with Ambari, palanquin-bearers carrying the bride and bridegroom, toddy tapper, set of village craftsmen, as well as various animals. The papier mache swinging doll is a favourite with many.9. Bobbili Veena
The Saraswati Veenas made in Bobbili are also sometimes referred to as Bobbili Veenas. Bobbili, a town 55 km from Vizianagaram , has a unique style of playing the Veena, developed over three centuries. It is known as the “Bobbili veena sampradayam” and its exponents have performed to much acclaim from Indian and International audiences.
The history of making veenas dates back to the founder of Bobbili Kingdom, established in the 17th Century by Pedda Rayudu, when playing veena was leisure activity and had its importance in every social event. The women from the Bobbili kingdom played the Veena, which were supplied bySarwasiddi community craftsmen who belonged to Gollapali. The Veena was specially made by Sarwasiddi Acchanna, the master craftsman who was appointed in Bobbili Kingdom.
To this date the practice of making Veena has been continued by the family members of the Sarwasiddi community which later has become alivelihood option and been carried over generations.
Veenas are made of Panasa wood (Jackfruit tree) which is lightweight and possesses qualities like excellent reverberation, clear grain lines, great durability and minimum swelling in moisture. It is acquired from the local deposits maintained by forest officials and also from nearby settlements.The wood is cut into the required size, around 4-5 ft in length. The uniqueness of the Bobbili and Nuzvidu Veenas is that they are carved out of a single log of wood. Such Veenas are called ekandi veena.
The Thumba is a spherical form fixed to the lower base of Dandi to give support. In a professional Veena, thumba is made of hollow pumpkin. In case the required size of pumpkin is not available, then thumba is made of aluminum sheet. Pumpkin is used as a resonator which helps in increasing the duration of the note played, and also for balancing the Veena to stand still when musician is not holding the instrument. All the fibrous matter in the pumpkin is removed and dried in sun for around 3 days and stored carefully. A metal pipe is screwed to the top of the pumpkin and connected to dandi to transfer the sound to pumpkin.
A fret board (danda) connects these two ends, with twenty-four brass frets set in wax and charcoal. The frets are set to halfsteps in two octaves. Four main strings traverse this fret-board, from a bridge at the right end to tuning pegs (biridais) at the left end. At this left end of the danda is attached a “yali”, which is a scroll that is carved into an elaborate head of a mythical animal. Three additional strings (talam strings) are set off to the side and are used for rhythmic emphasis.
Apart from the main body, certain brass and bronze parts are crucial for holding the wooden parts of the Veena together, for improving the tonal quality and also for adding to the aesthetic value of the instrument.
A major change in the material can be seen in the decorative inlay work, which used to be done on elephant tusks, now replaced by plastic. The patterns are engraved on the polypropylene. Lac is applied on the engraved surface filling them to produce patterns.
Thanjavur veenas are manufactured in great numbers, while Bobbili veena still remains a rural, small-scale industry. There are around 30 families in a small village called Gollapalli (near Bobbili), dependent on making this musical instrument for their livelihood.
Adapting to the changes demanded by the customers, for the past 15-20 years, the craftsmen have been making different instruments like thepeacock Veenas, Swarnamandal, Tambura, Tabla set, Violin and Sitar. Bobbili and Vadada have now become more famous for producing ornamental miniature Veenas rather than the actual Veenas.Other Veena Clusters ~ Tanjore, Mysore, Thiruvananthapuram, Rampur, Bobbili, Pithapuram and Bandar Veenas.
Source:- Gaatha(dot)com
10. A.P Leather Puppetry
As early as the twelfth century, the art of puppetry flourished in Andhra Pradesh, narrating stories of divinity, sometimes taking the divine dimensions itself. Stories from the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata were performed and went on for several nights.
The puppet shows had something for everyone – divine epics for the devout; and comic relief for the distracted. Puppetry is still practiced today, especially during festival occasions, although not many puppeteers practice this art nowadays.
Leather shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh is known as Tholu Bommalata, (Tholu – leather, Bommalata – puppet dance). Two other kinds of shadow puppetry are practiced in Andhra Pradesh, the Sutram Bommalata (String puppets) and the Koyya Bommalata(Wooden puppets). The leather puppets, because of their transparency and jewel like glow, are most popular.
Madhavapatnam, near Kakinada, DCPalli in Nellore district, Nimmala Kunta in Anantapur district and Narasaraopet in Guntur district are the main centers for leather puppets.
11. Tirupati Laddu
The Tirupati laddu is given away as "prasad" at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati. Laddu was introduced in tirumala on august 2nd,1715. Recently,Laddu has completed its 300th anniversary.
No pilgrimage to the world's richest Hindu temple is complete without the laddu, made of flour, sugar, ghee, oil, cardamom and dry fruits. The mouthwatering sweet is the most sought after `prasadam' after prayers to Lord Venkateswara. Although the temple offers various types of `prasadam', the laddu is more popular among pilgrim
12. Guntur Sannam Chilli
Andhra cuisine is famous for its extremely spicy dishes and the chilli responsible for this is the Guntur Sannam – S4. The Sannam chilli has many varieties that are grown not only in Andhra but also in states such as Madhya Pradesh. Known for its heat, unless one is used to such a high level of spiciness, you will find many people in tears when eating delicious Andhra dishes. As the name suggests, it’s grown extensively in this region. This chilli has become so popular; it is exported to all over the world. It accounts for roughly 30% of India’s chilli exports.
No comments:
Post a Comment