COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE
STAMP ON HANDICRAFTS OF INDIA TO BE RELEASED
The President of
India, Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will release a commemorative postage
stamp on Handicrafts of India at a function in New Delhi tomorrow.
The Department of Posts is bringing out a set of four stamps and
a miniature sheet on the handicrafts tradition of India. The stamps
feature Cane and Bamboo artifacts, Thewa art, Dhokra casting and
Patan’s Patola fabrics. The stamps are in the denomination of
Rs.5/- each.
Thewa work is a traditional
art practiced in Rajasthan, which is meenakari ornamontation in
gold done on the surface of coloured glass. To concretise this
art, first the desired design is prepared on thin leaves of gold.
After doing grating etc., the glass is moulded by a chemical and
heating process. Silver frame then is made and mounted with gold
polish. The golden design made on glass is then studded in a polished
frame.
Dhokra is a metal
craft practiced by the indigenous people of Chhattisgarh, Orissa
and West Bengal. The "lost wax" technique is at the heart of this
art. The creation is given concrete shape with the craftsperson’s
experience and expert hands. Patola is India’s legendary heritage
of textiles as rich and highly placed. It follows the double ikkat
technique of weaving, in which both wrap and weft are separately
tie-dyed before weaving. The fabric used is silk and the process
is extremely complicated as well as sophisticated. The Patola
also has social and religious significance and is worn at the
time of important ceremonies.
The First Day Cover
alongwith the information sheet will be available on sale at all
Philatelic Bureaux/Counters and at selected Post Offices.
