PATUA KAAM - JEWELLERY STRINGING WORK

STRINGING OF FLOWERS

ORNAMENTS AND JEWELLERY have been indispensable to Indian costume since centuries.Gold and silver ornaments have strings made from a certain variety of yarns,containing beads and smaller metal units which are frequently separated from each other by a yarn ball or metal beads.Beads and metal units are often strung on cord or a supple braided wire.Yarn is manipulated by twisting,braided,plaiting,wrapping,knotting,netting and by making tassels.The craftsmen,who are called Patua,use very simple tools and practice this craft from the jewellery bazaars.

A Traditional necklace and a mangalsutra,necklace worn as a sign of marriage.

1. A bead worked jewellery piece. 2. Bangles embellished with patua beadwork. 3. Detail of tassels made by the Patua.

Production Cluster

Mumbai district:

Mumbai city:

Jhaveri Bazaar

Dharavi

Products

Pyjiama cords

Waist belts

Loops

Round yarn buttons

Animal ornaments

Knotted strings

Beads or metal units

Braid ornaments

Tassels

Pompoms

Tools

Metal ornament Cleaner

Gold Plater

Natai-drum

Charkhi-wooden reel

Iron hook

Kaatar-scissor

Knife

Large needle

FLOWER STRINGING IS NOT considered a craft although it requires special dexterity to wrap yarn around the delicate stems of jasmine flowers in rapid succession.It is a craft in which fresh flowers,probably the oldest materials used in India,are modelled into various accessories for personal adornment and for appeasing the gods.

Temple deities are garlanded everyday with fresh flowers,while during weddings the bride and groom are decked with garlands,symbolizing good luck.Flowers are threaded on a cotton string with a needle or held by a knot.Garlands can be of single kind of flowere,or a combination of different kinds,usually of contrasting colours,or different sizes.Flowers found in the immediate environment,or a some cultivated for their beauty like marigold ,champak,lotus,jasmine and rose are made into garlands and wreaths since all flowers are not suited for making into garlands.

Inset A necklace of tagar buds and yellow flowers.

1. Rose petals and tagar buds arranged as hair adornment. 2. A garland of rajnigandha,rose patels,marigold and marva

leaves. 3. A gajara,garland,of mogara flowers. 4. An anklet strung with tagar buds and yellow flowers. 5. Tagar buds strung in a circular form and worn around the

hair bun.

Production Clusters

Mumbai district:

Mumbai city

Products

Garlands

Ornaments

Gajra-hair adornment

Torans

Tools

Needle

Thread