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Puppetry is an ancient and popular form of folk entertainment. No
village fair, no religious festival and no social gathering in
Rajasthan can be complete without the kathputlis (string
puppets).
With their exaggerated eyes and brightly coloured dresses, the
kathputlis are simply eye-catching.
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 The
use of brick was almost unknown in the geologically rich land of
Rajasthan which produces the country's finest marble, sandstone,
quartz and slate.
The extraordinary craftsmanship of Rajasthani stone workers is
amply visible in the numerous temples and palaces. For the
connoisseur, there are life-like statues and the intricately
carved pillars and jalis (latticed grilles). The finest
examples of jali work can be seen in the various havelis
(mansions) of Jaisalmer.
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Rajasthani textiles come in a fascinating range of dyed and
block-printed fabric which are further embellished by embroidery.
Each region has its own special colour scheme, design and
technique.
 Hand-block
printed textiles of the townships of Sanganer and Bagru near
Jaipur have won the hearts of millions at home and abroad. You can
check out some fabulous stuff at
Soma Shop
(Web Link). Jaipur's quilts
are a hot favourite with most visitors.
 Tie-and-dye
textiles, called bandhej or bandhani are an
important Rajasthani craft. Different methods are used to tie the
fabric into small points and produce various patterns like lehariya,
mothda, ekdali and shikari. The best bandhej
comes from Sikar and Jodhpur, while
Jaipur, Barmer, Pali,
Udaipur and Nathdwara are the other
centres.
Zari and gota are lavishly used in bridal
and formal costumes. One can pick up saris or even cushion covers
with this elaborate mettalic thread embroidery.
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 Small
carved wooden chests and boxes with brass inlay and laquer work
are the some of the most popular items, together with sandalwood
statues. For those who don't mind the extra bulk, there also is a
wide range of grand furniture, reminiscent of the royal era.
Tilonia (near Ajmer) furniture also stands out for its fine
emroidery work done on leather. As also the extravagantly carved
furniture from Barmer region.
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