Glossary Arati: a ritual that comprises part of puja wherein at least one flame is lit and waved about a murti while chanting before bringing it in front of a worshiper who will cup their hands about the fire and receive the warmth as an act of self-purification and connection with the deity. Double ikat: […]

Dressing Flesh and Stone Bibliography Ambasta, Sumita, and Indu Viswanathan. n.d. “Ikat Weaving in India: A Case Study of Three Indigenous Traditions.” In Indigenous Technology Knowledge Systems, 137–50. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1396-1_9. Biluka, Nirmala. “The Sacred Stories of the ‘Ganga Patams’” International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research Dallapiccola, Anna L., Rosemary Crill, and Victoria […]

Architectural Dress: The Kalamkaris of Srikalahasti Temple Cloth – Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh – Late 19th C. – cotton – 326cm x 125cm – IS.75-1886 ~ Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum Introduction The kalamkaris of Andhra Pradesh defy the perceived boundaries between mediums perhaps more than any other. These cotton cloths are produced using mordant and […]

Auspicious Dress: Ikat Textiles within Andhra Pradesh Telia Rumal – Chirala, Andhra Pradesh – early 20th C. – cotton – 228cm x 108cm – V&A IS.166-1993 Introduction In a craft known for its complexity and difficulty, ikat weaving still manages to stand out as one of the most impressive textile techniques practiced at any point […]

Introduction: Inhabiting the Sacred Transcript In the state of Rajasthan, perched atop a hill and nestled in a bed of labyrinthine streets and bustling markets, lives a God. Having manifested himself at the top of the sacred mount Govardhan in the form of Krishna as a seven year-old boy, he spent many happy days among […]