Art for community's sake: Vedanta helps revive dying centuries-old traditions

IN the heartlands of India, where dusty trails meander through sun - baked villages and ancient hills keep centuries of stories, art has always been more than just beauty.

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It has been a voice, an identity, a tradition passed down through generations like a family heirloom. In Odisha and Rajasthan, the over four-millennia - old crafts of Dhokra metal work, Saura paintings, Ajrak block - printing, and Appliqué embroidery have long defined the communities that nurture them. Yet, as the rush of modernity swept through these regions, many of these cherished practices began to fade. Until a determined intervention by Vedanta breathed new life into these crafts, turning them into engines of empowerment and symbols of resilience.

Vedanta, through its inclusive community programs like Project Adikala, Upaya, and partnerships with changemakers like Ruma Devi, has reshaped the futures of artisans, preserving these time-honoured traditions while transforming them into sustainable livelihoods. Today, these crafts flourish, and so do the communities behind them.

A Tapestry of Traditions

Imagine the Jaipur Literature Festival, where book lovers and thinkers from around the world gather under vibrant canopies. Amid this hub of ideas, another kind of story is told through glinting Dhokra figurines, the hypnotic geometry of Saura paintings, the rich Ajrak block - prints on cloth, and the intricate appliqué work, every weft and warp breathing history. Artisans nurtured by Vedanta’s initiatives stand proudly behind these displays, no longer anonymous faces but respected custodians of centuries - old traditions.