handicrafts

Souvenirs from Udaipur: Shopping in the colorful markets of the City of Lakes

Shopping is always a fun and stress-relieving errand. While you’re on your voyage in the City of Lakes, you might as well like to shop for some Souvenirs from Udaipur. All you need is an eye to catch hold of some different stuff and mindset to bargain- there you go! You are so ready to dive into the shopping retreat. Udaipur has great markets and they retail some authentic Rajasthani products.

A quick tip: Binge on some roadside snacks to keep yourself full, you are gonna need energy to negotiate ladies!

Hathi-Pol and the markets of the Old City of Udaipur are perfect for finding souvenirs that will always be reminiscent of your visit to the City of Lakes. you can buy beautifully carved wooden toys, puppets, copper and zinc metal showpieces. In addition to this, you can also get silver coated furniture, jewelry boxes, figurines, also glass inlay work (lanterns, hangings, small chandeliers etc.) which can serve as impeccable decoration pieces for your home.

Souvenirs from Udaipur — Source: udaipurtimes

The market selling Handicrafts is huge in Udaipur and one can actually shop a lot from the bazaars here.

Price Range: Depends what you are buying; can go up to several thousand.

Buy From: Antiques from Old City and handicrafts from Hathi-Pol

Mojaris

One thing to give you that ultimate Rajasthani feel is the Mojaris. They are usually made from using tanned leather. The embroidered and embellished are the ones you might swoon over! The market at Hathi-Pol has a number of shops adjacent to each other, in a row, having a variety of Mojaris.

From Plain to textured, embroidered and with several designs, the Mojaris is a must buy item from Udaipur. Both for ladies and men, these serve as beautiful footwear that looks great when worn with ethnic apparels.

Price Range: Ranging from Rs. 100-120 it can go up to Rs. 500-700 or more depending on your bargaining skills.

Buy From: Hathi-Pol is the best place to buy Mojaris.

Miniature paintings

Udaipur has a huge number of miniature Rajasthani painting artists in the market. Pichwai and Phad paintings are also popular. As the name suggests, Miniature art is an intricate form of painting done on sheets as well as on ivory plates. These can be a great addition to your collection.

You can have an in-depth knowledge of Miniature Paintings by clicking here

Price Range: From a mere 100-150 Rupees for small ones they can range up to lacs of Rupees.

Buy From: From Hathi-Pol to the entire Old city to other markets as well, you can find miniature art at art galleries, art houses etc.

Leather journals

There are a lot of people who love collecting journals from where ever they tour. For all such people, leather journals from Udaipur can be a great pick as a souvenir. From small cute ones to actually large journals, you can get them in various shapes and size. Some are embellished and have some kind of cutwork.

Price Range: From Rs. 80-100 to 1000 above

Buy From: Old City, Jagdish Chowk Market

Tribal Jewelry

These pieces of eccentric jewelry will be an apt gift for her. The tribal jewelry of Rajasthan is quite famous. The ones found in the Markets of Udaipur are really cool and authentic. You can buy massive and bold rings, neck pieces, anklets, bangles, bracelets, earrings and so much more. The similar ones can be found in Silver metal as well, but those are quite expensive.

Put in simpler words, the jewelry is one we say ‘Boho-Chic’ and Bohemian Jewelry and can be paired with any ensemble to get an eye-catchy look!

Price Range: The metal imitation ones start from some 100 bucks

Buy From: Old City, Jagdish Chowk Market, Hathi-Pol, Chand-Pol

Bandhej

When in Rajasthan you gotta buy Bandhej. Bandhej is the outcome of the tie-and-dye process of coloring fabrics. These fabrics are then sewn into clothes and other forms of apparels. From the inexpensive Bandhej scarfs or ‘Dupattas’ they can go up to quite expensive cloth materials, sarees, bedsheets to many more.

The authentic Bandhej can costs you a lot, while a bargain would not make a huge hole in your pocket.

Price Range: Scarfs/Dupattas are a good pick and can be bought within Rs. 500

Buy From: It is available in all the markets, especially, Bapu Bazaar, Maldas Street, Hathi-pol, Chand-Pol

Loads of photos and memories

The one thing that won’t cost you anything is the memories you make here. The city is beautiful and extremely peaceful. The scenic landscape can serve a picturesque backdrop for your snaps that you will cherish forever. Get yourself some memorable moments or things that keep your Udaipur visit alive.

I am sure, you will return home with lots of beautiful pictures and memories.

Shilpgram Utsav: An Alluring Summation of Indian Handicrafts Ends with a Promise to Come Next Year

Shilpgram Utsav In Udaipur • December 21 to 30 December 2017

All roads led to Shilpgram, craftsmen’s village, a huge ethnographical museum that comprises over 31 rural dwellings from the four-member Western States of India viz Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, re-erected in 70 acres of picturesque countryside amongst the foothills of the Aravalli range, just 5 km west of Udaipur. The ten-day long Shilpgram Utsav in which 600 folk artist from 18 states and 400 artisans participate was inaugurated on Dec. 21^st by Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh.

According to Mohd.Furqan Khan Director West Zone Cultural Centre Udaipur, the annual festival was organized with the aim of displaying the handicrafts of craftsmen from all over the country and marketing their products directly without any middlemen.The Shilpgram Utsav was staged with the cooperation and contribution of the seven zonal cultural centers, the ministry of Culture Govt. of India, Development Commissioner Handicrafts New Delhi, Development Commission Handlooms, New Delhi and National Wool development Board New Delhi and in it over 1000 folk artists participated.

A new feature introduced this year in the Utsav was the Kamal Kothari Memorial (Life Time Achievement) Lok Kala Award. Dr. Kamal Kothari was born in Jodhpur and educated in Udaipur, devoted his whole life to the preservation of Rajasthan’s folk arts, folk music, and folk music instruments, research in folk arts and their development collection of folk songs and research in all these areas. With Indian’s one of the greatest story writers are Vijaidan Detha he launched Prerna Magazine with the aim of collections, recordings and making a musical notation of folk songs. He worked for Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academy. It was due to him that Langa Mangniiyar musicians became famous all over the world. He was honored with Padma Shree and Padma Bhushan Awards. He was given Nehru Fellowship for the collection of Rajasthani Literature, folk songs, folk tales etc. The Govt. of Rajasthan honored him with Rajasthan Ratna in 1989 Columbia University, made a documentary named ‘Kamal Da’.

This year’s Kothari Life Time Achievement Award worth 2.51 Lac was given by Rajasthan Governor on 21^st December to folk artist Bansi Lal Khiladi of Chvee village of Degana in Mansaur district, who has acted as Raja in folk plays. He has been a Mand singer and Ramleela player. Looking to his proficiency in Kuchamani Khayal style, his guru Nath Dasji made him the leader of the troupe. He has given thousands of presentations organized by different places. He has been honored by Rajasthan Sangeet Academy and Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi. His presentations on the first three days of Shilpgram Utsav were greatly appreciated by the audience.

One of the main attractions of the Utsav this year was the fusion of three kinds of styles, out of which the fusion of two classical and one semi-classical style was presented in place of that mixings of one ‘raga’ and ‘tal’ of two different styles. In this special presentation were added Lavni of Maharashtra, Gotipua of Orissa and classical Kathak. In this Lavni exhibited classical element with folk element while Gotipua was a fascination of classical elements that was mesmerizing. Kathak was a mix of beautiful step work and facial expressions. There was a similarity of musical instruments; the three styles produced a highly enjoyable effect.

Performances in the Shilpgram Utsav In Udaipur

The exhibition of wood statues prepared by artists from different parts of the country during a wood sculpture workshop organized earlier turned out to be another big attraction. Also on display in the Darpan hall were different paintings by well-known painters from all over the country painted in a workshop organized by the Centre from time to time.

For the first time in Utsav were on display the different characters such as Devi Amba, Raee, Budiya, Banjara, Chor-police, Bhiyawa of Gavari; made of sand. Gavari is a folk festival of the Bhil caste of Mewar that is min. Of dance, music, and actions and celebrated enthusiastically in the month of Shrawan.

Visitors got an exciting opportunity to showcase their talent in the ‘Hiwda Ki Hook’ programme when every afternoon they sang, danced and related their interesting experiences before a big audience. They were also able to win prizes in the Sanskritik Quiz.

For their own use and giving gifts, visitors were seen busy buying different handicrafts products from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Bengal, Goa etc.

The crowds swelled during the last few days as they were able to get products they liked at a much lower price. Young and old were seen riding camels and horses with the huge variety of cuisine foodies had a whale of a time. A large number of tourists, both inland and foreign, also enjoyed themselves immensely.

With better marketing, this big Mela can easily become an even bigger national level Mela that would also boost tourism.

Photo Credits: Dimpy Chundawat & Fouzia Mirza