Crafting Traditions

Between the soulless anonymity of mass-produced goods and the dizzying price levels of antiques, some artifacts can still be loosely categorized as folk art. Woodwork of Paharis is one such example, an effort at continuing our artistic and cultural traditions.

Himachal Pradesh is an inexhaustible source of marvel and fascination. Its wonder and mystery are deepened by the large number of artifacts produced by rural artisans over the centuries. The artifacts have helped preserve the ancient artistic and cultural traditions in the villages.

Wooden Sculptures and Religion

All over Himachal Pradesh, one finds innumerable wooden sculptures in rural style, each carved respectively in the local style of the area. Freestanding, three-dimensional sculptures in this style are very few in number, while those carved in relief on the wooden planks are numerous. Both the varieties are marked by an expressive quality that results from direct carving. The rural folk satisfy their religious responsibilities through these images. Very often, one finds them enshrined in a shack-like structure near a big temple.