Monsoon Mélange – Handmade in India, Celebrating the Diversity

Name: Monsoon Mélange – Handmade in India, Celebrating the Diversity
Start: 2025-08-28T11:00:00+05:30
End: 2025-08-30T19:00:00+05:30
Location: Aga Khan Hall

Schedule

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025 at 11:00 am to Sat, 30 Aug, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC+05:30

Location

Aga Khan Hall | New Delhi, DL

Monsoon Mélange brings together two timeless traditions of India’s handmade heritage — Appliqué from Barmer, Rajasthan and Kotpad Weaving from Koraput, Odisha.
🧵 Appliqué – Barmer, Rajasthan
A craft that migrated with families during the Partition of 1947, Appliqué has since become both a cultural anchor and a livelihood for women in Barmer. Generations have carried forward techniques like Mukke-ka-kaam (gold and silver thread embroidery once reserved for grandeur) and Soof embroidery (geometric precision crafted without tracing). Each piece embodies memory, resilience, and empowerment.
🎨 Meet Aasu Ram & team from Dhanau, Barmer, who represent this living heritage.
🌿 Kotpad Weaving – Koraput, Odisha
Practiced by the tribal Mrigan community for over 500 years, Kotpad textiles are known for their natural dyeing process — roots of the aal tree (Indian madder) give rich reds and browns, bound to the yarn with castor oil, cow dung, and wood ash. Its motifs — crabs, axes, fish, diamonds — narrate everyday tribal life.
🧶 Witness the artistry of Padma Shri awardee Gobardhan Panika and Jema Mani Panika, who continue to sustain this rare weaving tradition.
💡 This is more than an exhibition — it is an opportunity to engage directly with rural artists, hear their stories, and experience crafts that carry centuries of knowledge and community spirit.
📍 Delhiites, mark your calendars!
Celebrate handmade traditions, discover rare textiles, and support the artisans who keep India’s diverse heritage alive.