Home :: Culture of India :: Shopping In India

An inextricable part of the great Indian shopping scene are the local fairs held periodically all over the country, street side bazaars with their pavement stalls, and in dimly lit shops that invariably surround many of the country's ancient monuments. In Mumbai's Chor Bazaar ( Thieves Market), it is literally possible to buy everything from a pin to an elephant and an antique, if one is lucky. The bazar around Char Minar in Hyderabad is crowded with shops, where heavily veiled women bargain for real pearls and glass bangles. Each state in the country has something to offer, for crafts are essentially the inter-relationship between materials available and local traditions.

The Indian markets cater multiple options to the travelers to pick the right thing of right choice. From the semi precious stone studded garland to a trendy leather shoe, Indian market is the ultimate destination for the shoppers around the world. A leisurely walk through the crowded lanes of the Indian metro cities are sure to indulge your sense and taste for exquisitely carved jewellery, beautiful handicraft items, excellent paintings and some real good Indian clothes.

As we mention about jewellery, the first name coming to our mind is Jaipur. The narrow streets of Johari Bazar of this beautiful city are world famous for their silver, precious and semi-precious stone jewellery. But how can anyone forget the alluring designs of small, medium and large pearl studded ornaments of the pearl city Hyderabad or the dazzling diamond jewellery of Mumbai, Zaveri Bazaar? Another fascinating aspect of the Indian markets are its handicraft items. Be it a colourful ornament or decorative items like bells and chimes, candle holders, flower vases or some intricately designed home furnitures, shopping is never ending fun in the passion to decorate yourself or your dining room with these tempting articles. The handicraft of Rajasthan, Orissa and West Bengal need special mention here.

As we open the cultural basket of India, the first treasure to come out would be the excellent paintings. Apart from the globally acclaimed painters, India is also rich with the traditional rural paintings like Madhubani Paintings of Bihar. Made by the village women exploring their imagination, these bright paintings are going palaces across the globe. These traditional Indian folk art paintings are worth of collection which are available in the sophisticated shopping arcades of Murya Lok Complex or Hathua Market. Another priceless jewel of Indian culture is the numerous books available in the College Street Market of Kolkata, which is nothing less than a treasure island for the book worms. This huge market is famous for catering any kind of books in all the famous languages of the world.

Furniture of India
Cane & Moonj : For those who prefer ethnic with the raw look, India offers a superb selection of baskets made of moonj grass. These are available in attractive blends of traditional designs and modern functional utility. Durable and decorative cane furniture and other articles made here are a major draw as items for export. World imports of basket work and related products are quite substantial.

Ideal Place to Shop : Kashmir, Assam, Aranachal Pradesh, Tripara, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Panjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

Jewellery in India :
Costume Jewellery : For the hi-fashion woman of today there`s nothing quite like the offbeat style of self adornment... pick the style that suits you most! For, with the passing of centuries, the old appears offbeat today, having an irresistible lure for women the world over.India is one of the most important countries for the manufacture and export of costume jewellery. It has the largest production base for glass beads.

Ideal Places to Shop : Kashmir, Rajasthan, Mumbai.

Glass & Bead Jewellery : Varanasi is famous for its glass beads made from fused glass rods, while Purdilpur is famous for black glass beads. Mathura is noted for lovely glass beads, stringing glass and wooden beads in necklaces together with rudraksha {sacred seeds associated to Lord Shiva) and tulsi (basil) in a variety of interesting combinations. Ferozabad has a rich selection of fragile and delicate lightweight beads. `German silver` jewellery created to modern tastes is made in Agra, while Meerut produces exquisite metal jewellery. Silver ornaments are especially popular in Rajasthan, while Karnal in Haryana produces hollow silver beads. Rohtak has well made peasant jewellery and graceful head ornaments are made in Maharashtra.

Tribal Jewellery : India has a large tribal population. Their jewellery is a major attraction within the country as well as abroad. The adornment fashioned from flowers, leaves, stones of creepers and fruits are unbelievalbly charming, shells, seeds and berries rudraksha being, the most celebrated. Shell bracelets of W. Bengal, specially filigreed gold bracelets will, for certain, capture your heart.

Ideal Places to Shop : Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,Maharashtra Kerala, Assam,Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Metal Craft in India :
Brass & Copperware : India is the largest brass and copper making region in the world with thousands of establishments spread all over for articles made out of one or more pieces of metal.The copper or brass sheet is first marked out by a pair of compass and the piece or pieces cut off by a scissor called katari. The required shape is made by alternate heating and hammering, and is finally turned on the lathe. The final polish to the article is given on the lathe itself. Moradabad is famous for utensils,both utility and ornamental, made of white metal and electroplated brass and copper. The engraving is either sada (plain) or sia kalam.Modern streamlined articles of Swedish design in polished brass or burnished copper are also made here, satisfying the demand for modern accessories and sophisticated interior decoration. Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh is the first city in India for the multitude of its cast and sculptured mythological ../north-india-images and emblemata in brass and copper as well as household utensils. In recent years Mirzapur has also emerged as one of the important brass industries of Uttar Pradesh. Goods produced have an all India market,with a portion being exported to other countries. Some of the most beautiful and interesting metalware of India for daily as well as for ceremonial purposes are crafted in Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Stone Craft & Marble Inlay Work in India :
Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh has nurtured a sizeable stone carving industry with its rich deposits of beautiful soft stone. The stone is many coloured with the predominance of a lovely red shade. Marble is also used,especially for making statues. In Varanasi the work is done by a community called raidas. The range of items include tableware, plates, glasses, bowls, food containers, candle stands, etc. Agra is world famous for its superb inlay work in marble, drawing inspiration from the Taj Mahal. The designs are either foliage or floral intertwined with geometrical patterns.Models in marble of the Taj,vases, boxes, lamps, plates,bowls and pitchers in delicately moulded shapes & fine carvings are some of the popular items produced here. Intricate friezes and trellis or jali work done in an eye- catching range of patterns is also speciality of this place. Vrindavan near Mathura has marble as well as alabaster products. Some objects are embossed with semiprecious stones or synthetic gems.

Ideal Place to Shop : Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.


Textiles in India :
Brocade Textiles : Extreme softness vivid colours and translucent texture chracterises the silk weaving of India. Varanasi, centre silk weaving center is famous not only for its brocade or kinkab (superb weaving in gold and silver), but also for the wide variety of techniques and styles. The brocades are distinguished by apt poetic names like chand tara (moon and stars), dhupchhaon (sunshine and shade), mazchar (ripples of silver), morgala (peacock's neck), bulbul chasm (nightingale's eyes). Varanasi is also famous for tanchoi saree which resembles a fine miniature. Its origin can be traced to three Indian Parsi brothers by the name of Choi.

Embroidery : In the field of ornamentation, embroidery alone can match jewelleryin splendour. It is an expression of emotions,rendered with patient labour which includes grace and elegance into articles of everyday use. The chikan work of Lucknow, patterned on lace is delicate and subtle. The stitch by Its sheer excellence provids ornamentation to the material.The charm lies in the minuteness of the floral motifs, stitches used are satin stitch, button- hole stitch,dar stitch knot stitch netting and applique work which bring a charming shadowy effect on lace.

Hand Block Printing : The fabric is further decorated by printing designs on it. Hand block printing in India was the chief occupation of the chhipas -a community of printers. rhey used metal or wooden blocks to print desigt1s on the fabrics by hand. This technique is in vogue even today. Besides Rajasthan, Ut tar Pradesh is also a veritable treasure-house of traditional desigts which range from the classical booties. known as dots of Kanauj, to the universal Mango, to the famous Tree of Life. The great colour belt in India extends from the interior of Sind through the deserts of Kutch, Kathiawar, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Rajasthan and Gujarat are particularly noted for its bandhini design.

Ideal Place to Shop : Varanasi, Mysore, Kashmir, Lucknow, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chennai, Kerala.