Khartal is a traditional percussion instrument, being an integral part of Rajasthani music. This musical tool derives its name from the Hindi words ‘Kara,’ meaning hand, and ‘tala,’ representing rhythm — thus, symbolizing the rhythm of the hand. The Manganiyars and the Langa communities, who reside in Jaisalmer and Barmer, usually play this instrument during religious and social celebrations.
Khartal falls under the category of idiophones of the self-sounding variety, where the instrument’s properties of vibrator and resonator are combined. Traditionally, it is made from sheesham wood or teak, known for producing the required nadam or sound. Due to its unique appearance resembling animal bone, it’s also referred to as rhythm bone. Besides wood, khartals can be constructed from metal. While most khartals are plain, occasionally, they feature intricate designs.
Playing khartal involves holding it in the hand and alternately opening and closing the fingers to strike the flat surfaces together. While typically men perform with this instrument, sometimes, pairs of khartals are played using both hands. Be it solo performances or ensemble playing, khartal exchanges rhythmic dialogues with other instruments, especially the dholak, making Rajasthani performances lively.
Bhubaneswar’s Tribal Museum: A Reflection of Tribal Culture and Art
The Tribal Museum in Bhubaneswar serves as a quick recap of tribal culture, art, and Odisha’s cultural identity. Displaying over 5,000 digitized objects and replicas, the museum beautifully reflects tribal lifestyle, history, and art. It visualizes the commonalities among various tribes such as the Bondas, Saoras, Dongria Kondhs, Juangs, and Kutia Kondhs.
The museum’s assortment includes hut replicas, textiles, rice grain sculptures, musical instruments, hunting and fishing tools, household objects like husking levers, and more. Visitors can also see painters at work selling finished artwork. The tribal museum offers valuable insights into various tribes. For instance, the Bonda tribes from Malkangiri district are known for their shifting and wetland cultivations and their unique skill of making brooms and drinks from mahua flowers.
Tribal culture plays a significant role in shaping Odisha’s cultural identity, which is mainly a mix of Hindu and Buddhist influences. The state deity, Lord Jagannath, holds a special place in the hearts of all residents, regardless of their castes or tribes. For instance, even the Saoras tribe, known for their music and wall mural paintings, revere Lord Jagannath as their God.
Kumaoni Aipan: Red and White Glory
Aipan is an indigenous folk art created by the women of Uttarakhand. This art involves creating religious motifs, geometric patterns, and nature-inspired elements on the floor against a brick-red background using a white paste made from rice flour. These designs, which exude a distinct local flavor, are believed to evoke divine power that brings good fortune and repels evil.
These artworks, limited to just red and white colors, are made during special occasions and household ceremonies and rituals, adding an extra charm to the celebrations.
Thanjavur: The Repository of Indian Crafts
Thanjavur, a city in Tamil Nadu, is celebrated for its Brihadisvara temple and three other 11th-century Chola temples, which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Moreover, this city has won geographical indication (GI) tags for four of its distinguished handicrafts that include Dancing Dolls (Thalaiyati Bommai), Metal Art Plates, Thanjavur Paintings, and Saraswati Veena.
The Thalaiyati Bommai, or dancing dolls, are often made from papier mache or clay. These dolls, painted in vibrant colours and intricate designs, narrate mythological stories during the ‘Bommai Kolu’ celebrations, a part of Dasara. The Metal Art Plates, embellished with figures of gods, goddesses, and floral patterns, represent the artistic legacy of Maratha King Serfoji Bhonsle.
Thanjavur paintings, known for their vivid hues, rich gold leaf work, and glass bead inlay, reminisce the influence of the Maratha period during the 1700s and the Nayakas, the region’s previous rulers. Finally, the Saraswati Veena, one of Carnatic music’s essential instruments, is revered for its resonant quality. Made from mature jackfruit wood, it takes artisans two to three painstaking months to carve and polish this instrument to perfection.
Muziris Port: A Peek into the Past
Muziris, an ancient port city in Kerala, is believed to be one of the world’s oldest ports. Traces of Roman ships coming to Muziris for pepper have been found in Sangam literature. However, in 1341, flooding in the Periyar River basin led to the port’s disappearance from the world map. Today, the remains of Muziris are conserved through India’s most extensive conservation project – the Muziris Heritage Project.
This initiative aims at preserving the historical heritage and boasts several highlights. It’s not only the largest heritage conservation project but also the Government of Kerala’s first Green Project. Moreover, many government departments are involved in the project, making it a collaborative effort.
Rail Heritage Digitisation Project: Preserving India’s Rail Heritage
The Rail Heritage Digitisation Project, initiated by the Minister of Railways and Coal in partnership with Google Arts & Culture, aims to highlight India’s rail heritage to national and international audiences through an online storytelling platform. Billed as the largest cultural heritage digitization project in India, it represents an extension of Google’s partnership with Indian Railways that includes providing Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations.
The project also involves digitizing many significant aspects of India’s rail heritage, including four UNESCO accorded World Heritage Sites – Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railways, Kalka Shimla Railway, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The National Rail Museum and Rewari Steam Centre have already been digitized under this initiative.
