Nazariya

A Story from the Mountains of Ladakh

High in the mountains of Ladakh, there is a festival called **Takthok Tsechu** that has been celebrated for generations.

Every year, monks gather at Takthok Monastery wearing colourful robes and beautifully crafted masks. As the sound of drums fills the air, they perform sacred Cham dances that tell stories from Buddhist traditions.

But these masks are more than just costumes. Each one represents a deity, protector, or spiritual figure, and every movement carries a deeper meaning. For the local community, the festival is not just a performance—it’s a way of preserving stories, faith, and culture.

What makes Takthok even more special is its history. The monastery is built around a sacred cave where Guru Padmasambhava, one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism, is believed to have meditated over a thousand years ago.

In a world that changes so quickly, traditions like Takthok Tsechu remind us of the importance of keeping stories alive—not in books alone, but through people, rituals, and shared memories.

📍 Takthok Monastery, Ladakh

What if, for one night, a man became a god?

In the villages of northern Kerala, this is the belief behind Theyyam—a tradition that has been alive for over 1,500 years.

With vibrant face paint, towering headgear, and elaborate costumes, performers transform into deities and are worshipped by entire communities. People gather not to watch a show, but to seek blessings, share their worries, and connect with something bigger than themselves.

What makes Theyyam truly remarkable is that there are nearly 400 different forms of Theyyam, each with its own story, character, and rituals. Some performers spend days preparing through prayer and fasting before the ceremony begins. The striking red face paint is made using natural ingredients, and many costumes are handcrafted from coconut leaves, bamboo, wood, and other materials found in nature.

Perhaps the most fascinating fact of all: for those sacred moments, the performer is no longer seen as an artist. He is believed to be the deity itself.

More than an art form, Theyyam is a living tradition that continues to bring communities together, generation after generation.

StoriesOfIndi

Thanks for joining today's Traditional Phad Painting worlshops, Craft Keepers! Together, let's give history a future!!

A few glimpses from our Kashmiri Papier-Mâché workshop ✨
Thank you for being part of keeping this beautiful craft alive — giving history a future!
We’ve got a whole series of workshops lined up this April, so keep joining in!

The art of sacred script, still alive in Old Delhi

A chance to witness Arabic Calligraphy not just as writing, but as an art of beauty, balance, and devotion. For centuries, this form has been used to give words a visual soul through flowing strokes, rhythm, and precision. Today, very few traditional practitioners continue to keep it alive.

Join Katib Mohammad Ghalib, one of the last traditional calligraphers of Old Delhi, for a hands-on workshop where you will experience the grace of this art form, understand its wwressence, and practice creating your own calligraphy piece.

📅 23rd April | 11 AM – 1 PM
📅 30th April | 11 AM – 1 PM
📅 1st May | 11 AM – 1 PM
💰 ₹1250 + taxes

Limited seats only. Register soon.

From Kashmir to Delhi: A Living Craft Experience ✨

Step into the world of Kashmiri Papier-Mâché — a centuries-old craft known for its intricate detailing, rich heritage, and storytelling.

For the first time in Delhi, learn and experience this rare art form with Padma Shri awardee Niyaz Ahmad Bhatt, master artisan from Kashmir.

🎨 Hands-on. Personal. Truly one of a kind.
🗓️ Three-day immersive workshop

Workshop: Art in Form – Kashmiri Papier-Mâché
Dates: 10th, 11th & 12th April
Time: 11 AM – 1 PM
Venue: The Kunj, Vasant Kunj
Fee: ₹5,000 (for all 3 days) + taxes

Limited seats only. DM to register.

From the valleys of Kashmir to Delhi — witness it up close. ✨

Experience the delicate beauty of Kashmiri Papier-Mâché, a centuries-old craft known for its intricate detailing and storytelling.

For the first time, get a chance to learn and witness this art in Delhi, guided by Padma Shri awardee Niyaz Ahmad Bhatt, master artisan from Kashmir.

🎨 Hands-on. Intimate. Truly rare.
🗓️ Three-day immersive course

Workshop: Art in Form – Kashmiri Papier-Mâché
Dates: 10th, 11th & 12th April
Time: 11 AM – 1 PM
Venue: The Kunj, Vasant Kunj
Fee: ₹5,000 (for all 3 days) + taxes

Limited seats only. DM to register.

Every Gond painting carries a story from the forest.

This artwork tells the story of a living tree that connects earth, sky, and every creature in between.

In Gond tradition, trees are not just plants—they are guardians of life. Their branches become homes for birds, their roots carry secrets of the soil, and their leaves whisper stories through the wind.

Look closely at the painting and you will see birds sitting peacefully on the branches. Each bird represents a messenger of nature, carrying stories from distant forests, rivers, and skies.

Together they remind us of something the Gond community has believed for centuries:

Nature is not separate from us — we are part of its story.

And sometimes, all we need to do is pause, look at a tree, and listen.

IndianFolkArt ArtWithStories

Ever seen a human become a god in front of an entire village?

This is Theyyam — a centuries-old ritual tradition from North Kerala where the performer is believed to temporarily embody a deity. It isn’t theatre in the modern sense. For the community, the transformation is real.

There are more than 400 forms of Theyyam, each with its own origin story, songs, costume design, and ritual code. The preparation can take hours. Layers of natural pigments are applied to the face in geometric precision. Massive handcrafted headgear — sometimes taller than the performer — is assembled piece by piece. Some of these structures are so heavy that performers train their bodies for years to carry them.

The ritual often unfolds at night in temple courtyards or sacred groves, illuminated by oil lamps and surrounded by the rising rhythm of drums. The sound builds gradually, creating an atmosphere that feels charged, almost electric. In certain forms, the performer walks through fire, spins at high intensity, or performs movements that push the body to its limits — yet the belief is that divine energy sustains him.

What makes Theyyam even more powerful is its social memory. Many deities represented in Theyyam were once real people — local heroes, women, warriors, or individuals from marginalized communities whose stories were preserved and elevated into divinity. In that sense, Theyyam becomes not just devotion, but a living archive of justice and collective history.

During the ritual, devotees approach with questions about health, conflict, fear, or major life decisions. The words spoken in that state are received as sacred guidance. For those few hours, the distance between human and divine dissolves completely.

SacredIndia CulturalLegacy

Ever wondered what imli ke beej (tamarind seeds) can turn into?
In Cheriyal craft, they become a bold, story-filled mask that looks straight at you like a theatre character.

Cheriyal is a Telangana folk art rooted in storytelling—the same tradition behind the iconic Cheriyal scroll paintings, once used by performers to narrate epics and folk tales. That’s why these faces feel so alive: big expressive eyes, bold outlines, rich colours—made to stand out like stage characters under spotlight. Every mask carries a persona—a hero, a villain, a deity, a comic character—each with its own mood and presence.

These masks are traditionally made by shaping sawdust + tamarind seed paste (imli ka gond) by hand, then sun-drying it till it’s strong. After that, artisans smooth it, add a white base coat so the colours shine, and then paint every detail—those dramatic eyes, sharp outlines, jewellery motifs—all freehand, layer by layer. Finished with a protective coat, it stays vibrant for years.

Basically: folk art + theatre + slow handmade magic—for your wall.

We have limited stock right now — DM “CHERIYAL” to get yours before it’s gone.