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Art is described as
a creation or expression of something beautiful
especially in a visual form and arts and Crafts
as a phrase means decorative designs and handicrafts.
In this field, also, Punjab has a distinguished
tradition, which its people have maintained in spite
of the passage of time.
Plastering the walls with mud and drawing ferns,
plants, several other fascinating motifs has been
a way of life of the woman of Punjab. They have
also been making paper mache utencils made by mixing
paper and various kinds of earth, for storing house
hold necessities in colourful designs.
The mudwalls of the rural houses in Punjab are
painted on festive occasions like Dushera, Karva
chauth( the day on which fast is observed by the
women for the well being of their husbands), Holi,
Diwali etc One is spellbound by the attractive and
intricaterly composed patterns and designs painted
on the mudwalls which are intended to invoke the
blessings and welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth
and plenty. These drawing are mostly done by the
women. The art of mudwall paintings in Punjab is
called Chowk-Poorana.
Basketry
The weaving of the vegitable fibres and the making
of wicker articles for daily use are amoung the
oldest creations of human hands. The evolution of
products made of vegitable fibres is still preserved
in the living tradition of rural products made of
osier bast, straw commonly known in Punjab as Sarkanda,
interwoven with bast, reeds, rushes and corn husks.The
craft of basketry is widely practised all over Punjab.
After shaving, thin straws of this grass, are woven
into beautiful carpets, curtains etc Amoung these
products the handfan is very popular and fascinating
on account of its curled shape. These fans are popularly
known as Peshawari Pakkhe. The ones smaller in size
are very fine and delicate. These are called Kundaladar
Pakkhi on account of their curled ends.
Another useful household contrivance called Chhaj
in Punjabi was manufactured out of sarcanda
which is used for separating edible
stuff from the grain. Screens, used
as a parting between wheat and hay,
for instance, were also woven from this
stuff. Baskets used for keeping pins,
cotton, buttons, needles, threads etc.,
in different shapes and colours were
contrived by young girls by using shaved
sarcanda and coloured cotton thread
which were taken by them as a part of
dowry. In Punjabi these are called katnees.
The shavings of sarcanda chicks and coloured cotton
threads were also used to weave Chiks, Bohey, Pitarian,
(useful household article) and kind of chairs called
Moorras.
Weaving of Durries (cotton bed or floor spreads)
in myriad motives and designs especially by young
girls in the villages has been a long tradition
in Punjab. These are also woven in stirpes, check
boards, squares, motifs of birds, animals and even
plants as a part of dowry.
Needle work of Punjab is unique, it has beautiful
names because of its associations with beautify
aspects of life and the beautiful designs which
the fingers of Punjab’s proverbially beautiful
women create have such a wealth of forms and motifs
that they defy enumeration. Some of these are called
Baghs, literally a garden, Phulkaris, literally
flower work, rummals, scrafs etc The pattern of
needle work done on the bed spreads, chunnis, dupattas
(these are head covers) and shirts and Salvars,
are still different. Needle work on phulkaris is
done on a deep coloured cotton cloth with striking
silk threads. The threads is pierced upwards from
underneath the cloth into free-hand motifs, while
in the Baghs and Rummals such cloth is worked on
the top side only. These were traditionally used
for wearing but now are exported as wall hanging
and sewn as jackets etc.
Phulkari, meaning flower work, is a spectacular
style of embroidery peculiar to Punjab,
and an essential part of everyday life. Almost every
cermony in which women participate is given a touch
of additionl colour and richness by the use of phulkari
on account of its being considered auspicious
 This
embrodery lends itself to making large
surfaces.The process is slow and laborious.
The art is acquired with a great deal
of effort. It has infinite patterns
testifying to the creative ability of
the needle-women, made up of vertical,
horizontal designs. The total effect
is that of florance magnificance. It
is essentially a faminine craft and
very domestic in all its eessential
features. It is an art because of harmonious
colours.
This type of embroidery is so excellently done
that it is hard to distinguish between the left
and right or upward and downward side. It has the
look of a carpet .The patterns are not restricted
or controlled, but bold, free and highly imaginative.
The designs and motifs are an expression of the
embroiderer’s thought and aspirations. These
women can stitch a railway train, motorcar, lorry
or even a rath (chariot) out of sheer curiosity.
Birds, domestic and wild animals in different sizes
and from different angels are common.
This handicraft did not arise out of any pure artistic
motive, but mainly to satisfy domestic necessity.
The inborn talent and spontaneous approch of the
uneducated village women, her deft hand and resourcefulness
have raised such works out of the realm of necessity
into the domain of art, pleasing in colour and designs
as they are. Another peculiarity of this embroidery
is that no two Phulkari’s are alike.
Leather craft
Punjabi Juttis are embroidered with gold and silver
wires all over in different patterns covering every
parts of the pair so that it looked as if it was
made of solid gold and silver. Now even when golden
and silver threads are used to embroider these shoes,
the quality of these world famous shoes is still
maintained.
Woodcarving is the most ancient and popular craft
worked withal by an ordinary carpenter and the most
expert of artists. The woodwork of Punjab has been
traditionally famous. Artistic beds with comfortable,
skillfully made back rests fitted with mirrors,
low seats called Peeras, Peerian were made by carpenters
in almost every village. Furniture designed in Punjab
and boxes, toys and decorative pieces made out of
lacqueur finish to wood crafts, in adorning it with
engraving wood, inlaying ivory (now white plastic
only) the workmen of Punjab have been renowned.
Woodcarving in Punbab is practised in Batala, Amritsar
and Hoshiarpur.
Metalwork in Punjab is also very famous. The common
use of metal objects in daily life necessitated
the evolving of various products and techniques.
The metal workers of Amritsar are known for their
skill in various forms of casting, soldering, methods
of decoration such as repousse, pierced work, chasing,
engraving etc. Metal pots and utensils, objects
like lamps and trumpet necessary for religious rituals
and some decorative items like lamp shades etc are
some of the items on which these artisians work
on. Amongst all these items the most remarkable
are the engraved metal doors and the figurative
engraved panels of the Temples and Gurudwara’s.
At times these metal doors are plated with gold
and silver and a very fine repousse work done on
them.
The Arts & Crafts of Punjab
Art is described as a creation or expression of
something beautiful especially in a visual form
and Arts and Crafts as a phrase means decorative
designs and handicrafts. In this field, also, Punjab
has the hoary and distinguished tradition which
its people have maintained in spite of vicissitudes
of time.
Take as simple a thing as mud for example. Plastering
the walls with mud and drawing ferns, plants, several
other fascinating motifs has been a way of life
of the woman of Punjab. They have also been making
paper mache utencils for storing house hold necessities
in colourful designs for a long time past, out of
a paste made by mixing paper and various kinds of
earth. A few decades ago, Sarcanda, a kind of tough;
thick elastic grass used to grow in plenty at places
which have now come under the plough. Out of this
grass roofs of all sizes (which provided air conditioning)
were fashioned in circular shapes. After shaving,
thin straws of this grass were woven into beautiful
carpets and curtains. Another useful household contrivance
called Chhaj in Punjabi was manufactured out of
sarcanda which is used for separating edible stuff
from .the grain. Screens, used as a parting between
wheat and hay, for instance, were also woven from
this stuff. Baskets used for keeping haber dasbery
(pins, cotton, buttons, needles, threads) in different
shapes and colours and covers were contrived by
young girls by using shaved sarcanda and coloured
cotton thread which were taken by them as a part
of dowry. In Punjabi these are called katnees. One
wedding song goes like this.
Punjabi (Tyari ho gayi patolaya teri katni nu phul
lag gaye) Arrangement for you have been made O beautiful
one-Katni has now blossomed forth.
The shavings of sarcanda chicks and coloured cotton
threads were also used to weave Chiks, Bohiey, Pitarian,
(useful household articles) and kind of chairs called
Moorras. Brushes for white washing were also made
by hands out of munjhs. Although these crafts of
Punjab are not yet completely forgotten, yet they
are moving fast towards fading out.
Weaving of Durries (cotton bed or floor spreads)
in myriad motifes and designs especially by young
girls in the villages has been a long tradition
in Punjab. These are also woven in stripes, cheek
boards, squares, motifs of birds, animals and even
plants as a part of dowry. Needle work of Punjab
is unique, it has beautiful names because of its
associations with beautiful aspects of life and
the beautiful designs which the dextrous fingers
of Punjab's proverbially beautiful women create
have such a wealth of forms and motifs that they
defy enumeration. Some of these are called Baghs,
literally a garden, Phulkaris, literally flower
work, rummals, scarfs. The patterns of needle work
done on the bed spreads, chunnis, dupattas (these
are head covers) and shirts and Salvars, are still
different. Needle work on phulkaris is done on a
deep coloured cotton cloth with striking silk threads.
The threads is pierced upwards from underneath the
cloth into free-hand motifs, while in the Baghs
and Rummals such cloth is worked on the top side
only. These were traditionally used for wear but
now are exported as wall hangings and sewn as jackets
etc. Punjabi hands fans like the Japenese are almost
typical and their leaves are made in much the same
way as phulkaris etc. are made. The shoes made in
different parts of Punjab out of self lured leather
have different traditions. Light shoes were considered
the best and to explain this aspect the cobblers
used to say that even the sparrows can fly with
them. Earlier shoes which have come to be known
as Punjabi Juttis throughout the world were embroidered
with gold and silver wires all over in different
patterns covering every parts of the pair so that
it looked as if it was made of solid gold and silver.
Now even when golden and silver threads are used
to embroider these shoes, the quality of these world
famous shoes is still maintained.
The wood work of Punjab has also been traditionally
famous. Artistic beds with comfortable, skillfully
made, back rests fitted with mirrors and carved
colourful legs called Pawas, low seats called Peeras,
Peerian were made by carpenters in almost every
village. Their skill has passed into folk songs
(Raati rondi da bhij gaya Ial bhangoora) weeping
last night my red Swing became drenched. Furniture
designed in Punjab and boxes, toys and decorative
pieces made out of wood are exported. In giving
lacqueur finish to wood crafts, in adorning it with
coloured mirror and in engraving wood, inlaying
ivory (now white plastic only) the workmen of Punjab
have been renowned.
 The
onslaught of high technology is putting
a premium on the arts and crafts in
the modern era and it will require special
efforts to preserve them for posterity.
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