The Hands Behind the Art: Stories of Our Indian Artisans from Banaras to Bastar
📚 ATHIZAY ARTISAN HERITAGE SERIES
A collection exploring the stories, skills, regional traditions and craftsmanship of the artisans who keep India's rich artistic heritage alive across generations.
What do a brass sculpture shaped in Banaras and a Dhokra figurine crafted in Bastar have in common? Beyond the metal from which they are made, each reflects the knowledge, skill and creative decisions of the hands that bring it to life.
Across India, artisans continue to practise traditional crafts shaped by regional histories, local materials and generations of experience. Their work is not simply about creating beautiful objects; it also offers a window into the cultural traditions and artistic expressions of the communities from which these crafts emerge.
In this first story from the Athizay Artisan Heritage Series, we travel from the historic lanes of Banaras to the craft traditions of Bastar to explore the people, techniques and cultural meanings behind their work.
Because to understand a handcrafted creation, we must look beyond the finished piece—and discover the hands behind the art.
Banaras: The Artistry of Metalwork
Varanasi, also known as Banaras, is celebrated for its religious and artistic heritage, including several forms of traditional metalwork. Among these is Banaras metal repoussé, a technique in which artisans create raised designs on metal sheets by carefully hammering and refining the surface.
Such work demands patience, control and an understanding of how metal responds to repeated shaping. Designs may include floral patterns, decorative motifs and religious imagery, bringing together technical skill and artistic expression.
Our connection with Vishwanath Mishra, a craftsman associated with brass idol-making, offered a personal perspective on the devotion and attention that can accompany this work. His words capture the deeper meaning that craftsmanship can hold for an artisan:
“We don’t just shape metal, we invoke divinity.”
The sentiment speaks to a relationship between material, maker and meaning. For many people, religious sculptures are not simply decorative objects; they also hold spiritual and cultural significance.
The work of a metal artisan therefore involves more than shaping a material. It can require a careful understanding of form, proportion, surface detail and the purpose the finished piece is intended to serve.
Reference link
Banaras metalwork: Development Commissioner (Handicrafts): Banaras Metal Repoussé Craft — an official description of the technique and its regional history.
Bastar: Where Dhokra Art Speaks Through Metal
Travelling from Uttar Pradesh to Chhattisgarh, we encounter another distinctive tradition: Bastar Dhokra, a metal-casting craft associated with the region.
Dhokra is known for its use of the lost-wax casting technique. In a traditional process, an artisan creates a form in wax, builds a mould around it and heats the mould so that the wax melts away. Molten metal is then poured into the space left behind. Once the casting has cooled, the mould is removed and the piece is finished by hand.
The process requires planning and precision at several stages. The design must be developed, the mould prepared and the casting completed with care. Surface details and finishing give the final object its distinctive character.
Bastar Dhokra designs may draw inspiration from everyday life, animals, figures, local traditions and cultural expressions. Each piece reflects the choices of its maker, including its form, proportions and decorative details.
Our interaction with Sarita Bai, associated in our original notes with a women's Dhokra collective in Kondagaon, brought another perspective to the meaning of craft.
Her words express the connection between creative work, identity and livelihood:
“This is not just income—it’s our voice.”
The statement reminds us that craftsmanship can be a means of expression as well as work. For artisans and craft communities, making objects can provide a way to carry forward familiar forms while responding to changing circumstances and audiences.
Bastar Dhokra is also a registered Geographical Indication (GI), reflecting its recognised connection with the region. This makes it a useful example of how a craft can be associated with a particular place and its distinctive tradition.
Refrence link:
Bastar Dhokra: IP India: Bastar Dhokra GI registration — official Geographical Indication registry information.
What Connects Indian Artisans Across Regions?
Banaras and Bastar have their own materials, techniques, histories and visual languages. Their traditions should be appreciated for these differences rather than treated as interchangeable expressions of a single style.
Yet looking at crafts from different parts of India can help us recognise some shared themes.
Knowledge built through practice
Many traditional techniques require repeated practice, observation and an understanding of materials. The finished object may be small, but the knowledge behind its making can be extensive.
Attention to detail
From the shaping of metal to the finishing of a cast object, individual decisions influence the appearance and character of a piece. These details are part of what makes craftsmanship worth exploring.
Tradition that continues to evolve
Craft traditions are not frozen in time. Artisans can adapt designs, forms and products to new uses while retaining elements of familiar techniques and cultural identity.
The value of the maker
Behind each handmade object is a person making decisions about form, materials and finish. Recognising that contribution encourages us to appreciate craft as skilled work, not merely as a finished product on a shelf.
UNESCO's discussion of traditional craftsmanship similarly emphasises the importance of sustaining the knowledge and skills involved in making, and of passing them on to future generations.
Refernce link:
Traditional craftsmanship: UNESCO: Traditional Craftsmanship — explains why craft knowledge and skills matter and how they can be passed to future generations.
Why the Hands Behind the Art Matter
When we learn about the people and processes behind handicrafts, we begin to see handmade objects differently. A metal sculpture becomes an opportunity to understand a technique; a decorative figure can prompt curiosity about its regional context; a crafted object can connect us with the people who continue to practise a
tradition.
Thoughtful purchasing can also contribute to demand for traditional crafts. Its impact depends on how products are sourced, how artisans are compensated and whether craft communities have opportunities to continue and develop their work.
Supporting craft heritage therefore goes beyond admiring an object. It includes learning about its origins, valuing the skill involved and making informed choices about what we buy.
For readers, even a little curiosity can be a meaningful starting point: ask about the technique, learn where a craft comes from and look for credible information about the people who make it.
Discover the Stories Behind Indian Handicrafts
At Athizay, we celebrate the variety of Indian-inspired craftsmanship through jewellery, potli bags, handbags, brass idols and decorative pieces. Each category offers its own opportunity to explore design, materials and cultural influences.
Our connections with artisans remind us that the story of a handcrafted object does not begin and end with its appearance. It also lives in the knowledge, decisions and dedication behind its making.
As you explore Indian handicrafts, take a moment to look beyond the finished piece. Discover the craft, appreciate the maker and recognise the traditions that continue to find a place in contemporary life.
Let’s celebrate the makers. Let’s honour the hands behind the art.
Explore Athizay’s collections and continue discovering the stories behind Indian craftsmanship.
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