Surat is a world-famous centre for the diamond industry, but the secret is that the city is also home to ornate mosques, colonial-style buildings, Parsi Agiaries and textile markets. In Gujarat, Surat district is also the heart of the craft of Sadeli or wood carving. The fine art of Zardosi embroidery and the striking Warli art are also practised in different parts of this district.
Sadeli
Sadeli is said to have come to Gujarat through the Parsis from Iran. The craft bears close similarities to the Persian form of marquetry called ‘Khatam’. Sadeli is a highly skilled technique where the craftsmen, in this case carpenters, fabricate intricate geometric or floral patterns on teak or other locally available wood. The elaborate designs add a charming aesthetic to doors, windows, cupboards, and bedposts. In fact, the famous Bombay Box--a tourist favourite--is actually a Sadeli handicraft from Gujarat. More recently, the craft of Sadeli is used to make sofa sets, book racks and lamp holders.
Zardosi
One of the finest techniques of embroidery is the Zardosi style, which is often used to add a royal touch to fabric. Zardosi is an art that uses metallic coated thread to make beautiful, intricate designs on cloth. The thread is usually made of thin strands of gold, silver or copper. To make these elaborate designs, the thread is held with a finger at the reverse of the fabric and the aari, a needle with a sharp point, is held on the top. Craftsmen use materials like sequins, beads, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones to sew on the fabric in elaborate patterns. Today, this exquisite style of embroidery is popularly used in bridal trousseaus.
Warli Painting
The beauty of warli paintings is that each one tells a unique story. In Gujarat, it’s a style commonly practised by the artisans of the Dang district. It uses a combination of simple shapes, that each bear a symbolic meaning. Traditionally used as a wall decoration, many of the tribal huts in the villages of South Gujarat have these paintings on their walls. If you look closely at each one, you’ll notice that every symbol of Warli art carries a strong message. For example, central motifs symbolize the mother goddess. Squares represent fertility and prosperity and triangles symbolize mountains and trees.