The Journal
Stories from the river towns
Notes on the crafts we carry: how they are made, where they come from, and how to wear, use and care for them.
What to Wear for Navratri: Handloom Sarees and Suits for the Nine Days
From the morning puja to the evening aarti: handloom sarees and suits in sindoori red and haldi yellow for the nine days of Navratri, and how to follow the nine colours.
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What Jewellery to Wear for Garba: Bell Metal, Ghungroo and Coin Necklaces
Garba asks for jewellery that moves with you and still feels light after hours of dancing. Why hand-cast bell metal works so...
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Akhand Jyoti for Navratri: Choosing and Caring for a Brass Diya
The akhand jyoti is a lamp kept burning through all nine nights of Navratri. How to choose a brass diya, keep the...
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The Navratri Kalash: How to Set Up Ghatasthapana at Home
Navratri begins with the kalash. What Ghatasthapana means, what goes into the kalash, how to set it up at home, and how...
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Handcrafted Diwali Gifts: A Guide to Indian Crafts Worth Giving
Gifts that carry a story: handloom sarees, cast bell metal, lacquered wooden toys, Gond paintings and hand block prints, all made by...
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Gond Art: A Guide to the Painting Tradition of Central India
Trees, birds and animals built from fine lines, dots and dashes: where Gond painting comes from, what it means, and how to...
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Bagh Print: The Hand Block Printing of Madhya Pradesh
Red and black on off-white, printed with carved wooden blocks and washed in the river: how Bagh print is made, and how...
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How to Wash and Care for a Silk or Handloom Saree
A handwoven saree can last for generations if it is treated gently. Washing, drying, ironing and storing silk, cotton and zari sarees,...
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What Is a Chanderi Saree? History, Weave and How to Spot a Real One
Sheer, light and finished with fine zari, the Chanderi saree has been woven in the same Madhya Pradesh hill town for some...
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Chanderi vs Maheshwari Sarees: How to Tell Them Apart
Both are handwoven in Madhya Pradesh and both mix silk and cotton, but Chanderi and Maheshwari feel, drape and look quite different....
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