Art Form

Tribe

Key features

Place

ChadarBadar

Santhal

Performing Art Puppetry that

tells stories of Santhal way of
life and migration

Terai region of
himalayas

Saura

Saura

Painting Similar to Warli but

larger and elongated. Natural
colors are used

Odisha

Kalaripayattu

Martial art One of the oldest

fighting systems in existence

Kerala

Silambam

Martial art Weapon based

martial
art.
Uses
animal
movements of tiger, snake,
eagle forms and foot work
patterns plays an important
role;
Kuttuvarasai
part
of
silambam unarmed version

Tamilnadu

Martial art Sword and shield

fighting. Techniques are also
used in chau dance

Bihar

Pari-Khanda

Rajputs

Sculpture Made from soft

Poniki wood light, flexible
and strong.
Kondapalli
dolls

made piece by piece and are

stuck
together
using
an
adhesive
paste
made
of
tamarind seeds, followed with
a coating of lime glue.

Andhrapradesh

traditional
craft
that
is
protected as a geographical
indication (GI) under the World
Trade Organisation.
Natural dyes are used to
colour the toys and are
blended with lac to make lac
sticks which are then applied
to the finished wooden objects.
This age old traditional art
dates back to the reign of Tipu
Sultan who is said to have
invited Persian artists to teach
his artisans the craft.

Channapatna
toys

Karnataka

A male-female/raja-rani dolls
usually gifted to bride in
marriage. Made from kongu
trees.
known
for
their
intricate
carvings and the elaborate
attires that people dress them
in.

Marapachi dolls

Andhra Pradesh

Made in Tirupati
Included in the Government of
India Geographical Indications
Registry, the dancing dolls
made
of
wood
pulp
or
papiermach or clay. They are
called so because of their
bobbing head and body, that
are made separately and
balanced such that the parts
oscillate.

Tanjavur dolls

Matka silk

In towns of Malda
and Murshidabad

Matka is an Indian term for

rough handloom silk fabric

Tamilnadu

West Bengal

made
from
very
thick
yarns spun out
of
pierced cocoon in the weft and
organzine in warp. The yarns
are obtained from short ends
of silk from Mulberry silkworms
(Bombyxmori)
and spun by
hand without removing the
gum (sericin)

Aari
Embroidery

Handicrafts needle work with

beads or muthai and chain
stitch; inspired by the floral
motifs of Mughal period

Kutch, Lucknow,
Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasth
an, and Delhi

Baluchari Saree

Weaving -It is a hand woven

saree using richly dyed silk,
with intricate motifs depicting
Indian mythology woven onto
its large pallu.

Baluchar,
Murshidabad,
West Bengal

Maharashtrian folk
song and dance

Maharashtra
and konkan
coast.

Lavani /
Tamasha

Dhangars or
shepherds of
Sholapur

including

The dance form consists of

swirling, graceful movements
that make this dance a treat to
behold. Women dance while
men provide music for the
performance.
Kalbelia

Kalbelia tribe

Kalbelia dance and songs are a

part
of
UNESCOs
representative list of Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Musical instrument used
Pungi the one used by snake
charmers

Rajasthan

Bhavai dance

It involves tricky balancing

acts, right from balancing
seven to nine brass pots on
the head to balancing oneself
(along with the pots) on
narrow and unstable objects
like a glass bottle, brass plate
or the edge of a sword. The
brass pots can, and are often,
substituted by an even greater
number
of
earthen
pots.
P.S. : A theatrical form of
Gujarat is also called Bhavai

Rajasthan

Bhangra

Harvest dance energetic and

rhythmic performed by both
men and women

Punjab

Dandiya

Dance using bright colored

bamboo
sticks
where
participants strike the bamboo
sticks in rhythmic fashion.
Dancers go round a drummer
usually at the centre of the
stage

Gujarat

Garba

Dance form also originated in

Gujarat but uses hand and feet
movement;
traditionally
performed around a holy lamp

Gujarat

Giddha

Performed only by women in

Punjab. Female counterpart to
Bhangra

Punjab

Ghoomar

Chari

Gawari

Kath Puthli

Bhil

A traditionally passed folk

dance of Mewar of Rajasthan
includes rhythmic swirling.
Womens dance performed in
women gatherings.

Rajasthan

Gujjar

Womens dance form depicting

collecting of water. Women
dance by balancing brass pots
which are kept ignited with the
cotton seeds dipped in oil

Rajasthan

Bhil

A dance drama performed by

both men and women. Usually
performed by troupes which
travel from one village to
another

Rajasthan

Bhati

World
famous
wooden
puppetry
of
Rajasthan.
Wooden puppets are controlled
by metal strings

Rajasthan

Made of single piece of wood

and are colorfully dressed

Teratali

Kamar

Worship of baba ramdev.

Bhajans are sung during the
performance

Rajasthan

Walar

Gharasia

Prototype
for ghoomar.
Performed by women

Rajasthan

String puppet
Ganjam

show

Strings are attached

triangular wooden prop

from
to

Costumes are similar to Jatra

performances.

SutaKhandeiNa
cha / Kundhei

Puppets have no legs and have

long skirts

Odisha

Have more joints and are

therefore
more
versatile,
articulate
and
easy
to
manipulate

Baunsa Rani

Baunsarani
literally
means
The Bamboo Queen. Mainly
little girls exhibit various
acrobatic postures on the
crossed bamboo bar as well as
on the floor with exquisite
scintillating
movement
synchronized with the beat of
drums and songs.

Odisha

KommuKoya

Kommukoya tribe

Dance
form
of
Chintoormandal, east Godavari
district

Andhra Pradesh

Daminda

Apatani

Performed by girls during Dree

festival

Arunachal
Pradesh

Guravayyalu

Kurava

Performed by priests. Famous

in Kurnool. Influenced by
shaivism

Andhra Pradesh

Chikankari

Needlework White thread is

embroidered on cool, pastel
shades of light muslin and
cotton garments. Fabric is
usually thin else the needle
would not pierce. Geographic

Lucknow,UP

indication provided in 2008

Phulkari

Believed to have
been introduced
by Jats but
practiced by
Punjabi women

Needle work -use of darn stitch

on the wrong side of coarse
cotton cloth
with
coloured
silken thread. Punjabi women
created innumerable alluring
and interesting designs and
patterns
by
their
skilful
manipulation of the darn
stitch.
Named based on extent of
needle
work
Phulkari Shawls and head
scarfs
Bagh Work
entire fabric

covering

Adhabagh scattered
all along the fabric

the
work

Needle work Running stitch

all
along
the
cloth.
Also used in making cushions,
quills, beds etc by stacking old
sarees

Kantha

Intricate tie and dye process

where the yarn is dyed before
weaving. Also called double
ikat

Patola

PatanPatolaof Gujarat has GI

Needlework

Kashmiri
embroidery

It
draws
inspiration from nature. Birds,
blossoms
and
flowers,
creepers, chinar leaves, ghobi,
mangoes, lotus, and trees are
the most common themes.

Kashida

Kasuthi

Jamdani

Believed to be
brought
to
Karnataka by the
Lambani
tribe
followed
by
women courtiers
of
Mysore
dynasty.

Punjab

Birbhum, West
Bengal

Originally in
Gujarat, also
famous in
Odisha

Kashmir

involves embroidering very

intricate patterns like gopura,
chariot, palanquin, lamps and
conch shells on traditional silk
and Ilkal sarees.
The work is laborious and
involves counting of each
thread on the cloth. The
patterns are stitched without
using knots to ensure that
both sides of the cloth look
alike.
Karnataka
Handicrafts
Development
Corporation
holds GI for this art.
Jamdani is a fine muslin cloth
on which decorative motifs are
woven on the loom, typically in
grey and white. Often a
mixture of cotton and gold
thread were/was used.
Traditionally woven in Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Venkatagiri in Andhra Pradesh
is famous for this form of
weaving
In news as PM Narendra Modi
presented a tapestry depicting
Kamadhenu and Kalpavriksha
to Bangladesh PM Sheikh

Karnataka

Venkatagiri,
Andhra Pradesh

Hasina
Painting cloth based scroll
painting.
Usually
Hindu
deities

Jagannath and vaishnava cult

are depicted

Pattachitra

Kalighat
paintings

Artists known as
chitrakaras with
title Mohapatra or
Maharana

Woman members prepare the

glue, the canvas and apply
colours what we call the fill-in,
and give the final lacquer
coating. The master hand,
mostly the male member,
draws the initial line and gives
the
final
finishing.
Patta
paintings are done on small
strips
of cotton
cloth
Talapattachitra a variation
where palm leaves are used as
canvas
Simple
painting
form
developed around Kalighat
under British patronage by
artists called patuas
Uses water colors

Odisha

West Bengal

Painted with bright colors on

clear background
pictures
using
vegetable
colour and a few earthen
colours
Finished in black lines on cow
dung treated with paper
Mithila /
Madhubani

Mostly
depicts
mythology

Hindu
Mithila of Bihar

Marks seasonal festivals and

life events
Intricate flora, animal and bird
motifs are used to fill the gap
Passed on
daughter

from

mother

to

Colors Vegetable dyes, plant

roots, leaves, salt of iron, tin,
copper, alum
Gets the name from kalam
pen as intricate designs are
made using pen
Includes Hand painting as well
as block painting
Kalamkari

Patronised
kingdom

by

Vijayanagar

Andhra Pradesh

Legacy from father to son

Scenes from mythology are
usually depicted with floral
decorative
patterns
for
embellishments
Influence of Persian motifs and
designs
Phad

Scroll painting
district

of

Bhilwara

Themes include heroic figures,

rural life, animals and birds
2D depiction in Bold lines

Rajasthan

Art form is approximately 700

years old
Made mostly by women
Predominantly religious

Warli

Gond and Kol

Geometric patterns like circles,

triangles,
rectangles
spiral structuring of images is
common

Maharashtra

White color/ rice flour is used

on dark background
Jewellery
designing
enamel work

Minakari

Sonar or Sohail
caste of
Kshatriyas

Art
of
coloring
and
ornamenting the surface of
metals by fusing over it
brilliant
colors
that
are
decorated in an intricate
design
Gulab mina
Benaras

Bandhni

Started by Khatri,
a
kshatriyacommun
ity in Gujarat

Persian art
brought to India
by Bahamani
rulers

is

famous

in

Tie and dye art for cotton

fabrics
Called Chungidiin Tamilnadu
Metal art
artwork,

Bidriware

using

striking

Jaipur
Delhi
Lucknow
Kangra
Benaras
Kashmir

Rajasthan
Gujarat
Tamilnadu

inlay

important export handicraft of

India
prized as a symbol of wealth.

Bidar, Karnataka

The metal used is a blackened

alloy of zinc and copper inlaid
with thin sheets of pure
silver. This native art form has
obtained GI
meaning dance of the Priest,
a unique ritual dance.

Igu Dance

Idu Mishmi tribe

Igu dance is performed on Reh

festival, different ritual acts etc
with an aim of appeasing
various spirits for family and
social
well-being
and
prosperity.
Arunachal Pradeshs
for RD parade 2015

Arunachal
Pradesh

tableau

Kahaiya and Dholki the

percussion
instruments
besides short shehnai are used
in the dance.

Daang

Dangis

The men hold their arms round

the womens shoulders and
women clasp the men by their
waists
forming
circular
formations
moving
in
clockwise and anti-clockwise
directions.
The women climb on the
shoulders of men and form a
human pyramid.
Performed in RD parade and
won first position in 2015

Gujarat

Named
after
a
wooden
idiophone to which thin metal
discs are fitted which produce
a jingling sound and the
dancers
use
this
while
dancing.

Lezim Dance

Maharashtra

Dholki, a drum instrument is

used as the main percussion
music.
Very rigorous movements
Folk singing style neither
accepted
as
Raga
nor
reckoned
among
freely
rendered folk songs

Mand

Rajasthan

a boat song, sung by boatmen

while going down streams of
the river,
Bhatiali

the word Bhatiyali comes from

Bhata
meaning
ebb
or
downstream

West Bengal

Ragini

Folk song form

Haryana

Gulraj

Folk song form

Kashmir

popular ritual form of worship

of North Malabar in Kerala
Colourful costumes and awe
inspiring head gears with
strong colours of turmeric,wax
and arac

Theyyam

Kerala

Head gears are upto 5 -6 feet

high
Performance using masks
In honour of bhadrakali

Padayani

Tinta subsect of
Ganaka
community

Performed
in
bhagavati
temples southern variant of
theyyam

Kerala

blends music, dance, theatre,

satire,
facial
masks,
and
paintings
Fishermen dance
Koli

Koli a fishermen
tribe

Includes
both
men
women. Men dance
fishing oars

and
with

Maharashtra

Only the men folk perform this

dance on specific occasions
and at set locations.
Dhumal

HuyenLanglon

Wattal

Generally
performed
with
wearing long colourful robes
and tall conical caps, studded
with beads and shells.
Martial art consists of 2
forms
Thang ta armed version
uses sword, spear, axe and
shield
Saritsarak unarmed version
uses kicks, hand strikes and
grappling
Closely
with Burmese

associated
Bando
or

Jammu and
Kashmir

Manipur

bandshay
Folk song flourished in Braj
RasiyaGeet

Praises of Lord
charming leelas

Krishnas

Uttar Pradesh

Ballad of Bundelkhand

Alha

Heroic stories of Alha and Udal

who served Raja Parmal of
Majoba

Uttar Pradesh

Highlights the moral principles

of
morality, chivalry and
nobility
Songs based on love pranks of
Radha-Krishna
Hori

Sang during Holi celebrations

only

Uttar Pradesh

Songs sung during the birth of

male child
Sohar

Influenced the Muslim families

and the tradition is now found
among Muslims too

Uttar Pradesh

Depicts the mingling of two

cultures

Kajri

Shakunakhar
-Mangalgeet

Sung by women in rainy

season on third day of bhadra
Associated
with
a
dance
involving steps in semi circular
motion
Prayers for good health and
long life during religious and
auspicious occasions of childbirth,
baby-showers,
ganeshpooja etc.

Uttar Pradesh

Kumaon

Sung only by women without

any instrument
Songs depicting twelve months
of the year
Barahmasa

Basanti

Different
natural
entities
represent different months of
the year
Spring/ Harvest song which
accompanies the celebrations
of Basant Panchami

Kumaon

Garhwal

Sung by women of hilly areas

when they go to forests to
collect grass for cattle
GhasiyariGeet

Emphasis on importance of
labour
along
with
entertainment

Garhwal

Pankhida

Literally means lover

Sung by peasants working in
fields

Rajasthan

Lotia

Sung by women during the

festival
of
Lotia
Women bring water from lakes
or ponds in Lotasand kalashby
decorating them with flowers

Rajasthan

Teej

Sung during the festival of Teej

on third day after new moon in

Rajasthan

the month of sharavana

Songs revolve around union of
Shiva and Parvati
Songs on tales of Mahabharata
Pandavani

Singer
assumes
all
the
characters during the ballad
accompanying it with his
powerful singing
Portrays
the
common folk

SukarkeBiah

picture

Chhattisgarh

of

Associated
with
story
of
Shukra who calls off his
marriage for the sake of his
mother

Bhojpuri region

Mando

Slow
verse
and
refrain
composition dealing with love,
tragedy
and
both
social
injustice
and
political
resistance during Porutguese
presence

Goa

Chhakri

Group song performed using

musical instruments like noot,
rababs, sarangi, tumbaknari

Kashmir

Harvest songs
Bhakha

Laman

Regional music
melodic
and
elements

with most
harmonious

A group performance where

girls singing on peak of the hill
seldom see the group of boys
who give a reply to them in a
song seated on another peak
of
the
hill.
Sung especially in Kulu Valley

Jammu

Himachal
Pradesh

Semi classical vocal music

inspired by camel riders
Tappa

Characterised by jumpy and

flashy tonal movements

Punjab

Literally means narration of

story in glorious terms
Powada

Odes in praise of individual

heroes, incidents or place

Maharashtra

Chief narrator is known as

Shahir
Originally sung in praise of god
Brought from Persia
Qawwali

Qawwali performance presents

a fascinating, interchanging
use of
solo
and choral
modalities
Highly dramatic form of ballad

Burrakatha

Daskathia

Singer plays a tambura while

reciting the story
A famous exponent of the form
DarojiEeramma passed away
in august 2014
Name is derived from a unique
instrument called kathi or

Andhra Pradesh

Odisha

Ram
thali
clappers

or

wooden

It is a form of worship and

offering on behalf of das, the
devotee
Sung by a priest at the time of
coronation of King or to
welcome the King

Sana Lamok

Manipur

Also sung to evoke the spirit of

Pakhangba, the presiding deity
Mizos are known as singing
tribe
SaikutiZai

Mizo

Chai hia

Mizo

SaikutiZai are songs composed

by a poetess Saikuti in praise
of warriors
The songs that accompany
chai dance performed during
ChapcharKut Festival

Mizoram

Mizoram

Bow song

VilluPattu

Lead
singer
handles
an
instrument which is bow
shaped

Tamilnadu

Themes are usually theological

and emphasise conquest of
good over evil
Song sung in praise of Chola
Monarch
Ammanaivari

Ammanai is wooden ball.

Tamilnadu

Women folk sing appropriate

songs while playing the ball.
Unique combination of dance,
music and acting.
BhandPather

Satire, wit and parody are

preferred for inducing laughter
Theatre
form
known
softness of emotions
accomplishment of rasa

Swang

for
and

Language in Rohtak Haryanvi

Language
Brajbhasha

in

Haatras

Kashmir

Rohtak and
Haatras

Traditional theatre form of

Kanpur, Lucknow and Haatras

Nautanki

Initially performed by men

only. Now women are also
included

Uttar Pradesh

Gulab Bai of Kanpur gave new

dimension to old theatrical
form
Theatrical performance which
is partly entertainment and
partly a ritual offering made to
Goddess Amba.
Bhavai

Subtle social criticism laced

with pungent humour is the
speciality of Bhavai.
P.S. : a dance form of
Rajasthan is also called Bhavai

Gujarat

Musical plays during fairs in

honour of gods, or religious
rituals and ceremonies
Jatra

Born and nurtured in Bengal

West Bengal

Krishna Jatra was popularised

by Bhakti saint Chaitanyas
influence
Used for both stage and the
performance
Traditional theatre form with
songs in between dialogues
Maach

Madhya Pradesh

Dialogues are called bol

Rhyme
in
called vanag

narration

is

Tunes are called Rangat

Bhaona

Performance
of
Assamese
classical
plays
called AnkiaNaat
Sutradhar or narrator begins
the story in Sanskrit and the
play continues in Brajboli or
Assamese

Assam

Dashavatar

Performers personify the ten

incarnations of Lord Vishnu
wearing masks of wood or
papiermache

Konkan coast
and Goa

Krishnattam

Started in 17th Century AD

under the patronage of King
Manavada of Calicut

Kerala

Cycle of 8 plays performed for

eight consecutive days

Mudiyettu

Performed in the month of

vrischika
(November

December) in the Kali temples

as an oblation to Goddess

Kerala

Oldest traditional theatre form

of Kerala
Believed to be the prototype
for Kathakali
Koodiyattam/
Kuttiyattam

Based on
traditions

Sanskrit

theatre

Vidushak
dialogues

alone

delivers

Kerala

Emphasis on hand gestures

and eye movements

Yakshagaana

Theatre
form
based
on
mythological stories known for
its costumes and make up

Karnataka

Literally means street play

Therukoothu

Performed at annual temple

festivals of Mariamman(Rain
Goddess) to achieve rich
harvest

Tamilnadu

Cycle of eight plays based on

life of Draupadi
Gombeyatta

String
puppets(marionettes)
styled
and
designed
like
characters of Yakshagana

Karnataka

Have joints at legs, shoulders,

elbows, hips and knees
Puppets are manipulated by 57 strings tied to a prop.
Sometimes more complicated
movements are manipulated
by two or more puppeteers
Largest, heaviest and most
articulate of all traditional
Indian marionettes.

Bommalattam

Combine techniques of both

rod and string puppets

Tamil Nadu

Puppets made of wood

Strings for manipulation are
attached to iron ring worn
round the puppeteers head
Literally togalu skin/leather
bombe dolls

TogaluBombeya
tta

Shadow puppets made from

treated leather
Small in size and size varies
with social status of characters
the puppets portray Larger
for kings and smaller for
common people and servants

Karnataka

Shadow puppetry

TholuBommalat
a

Large in size with jointed

waist, shoulders, elbows and
knees

Andhra Pradesh

Colored on both sides. Hence

throw colored shadows on
screen
Shadow puppets of one piece
and have no joints
Not colored hence opaque
shadows

Ravanachhaya

Puppets are made of deer skin

Odisha

Props
such
as
trees,
mountains, chariots etc are
also displayed along with main
characters
Rod puppets made from wood
inspired by Bunrakupuppets
of Japan
Costumed like actors of Jatra
and usually have 3 joints
PutulNautch

A bamboo made hub is tied to

the waist of puppeteer on
which rod holding the puppet
is placed.

West Bengal

Puppeteers manipulating the

rods,
move
and
dance
imparting
corresponding
movements to the puppets
Rod puppets made of wood
Yampuri

Have no joints and are made

of a single piece

Bihar

Pavakoothu

Glove puppets costumed as

kathakali performers

Kerala

Height varies from 1-2 feet

Head and arms are carved of
wood and joined together with
thick cloth, cut and stitched
into a bag