Kalamkari

Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted cotton textile produced in Andhra Pradesh. Initially, only natural dyes were used in Kalamkari however, nowadays, chemical-based acrylic paints are also used for freehand drawing of the subject and filling in the colors. Kalamkari art usually depicts scenes from Hindu epics like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas. The term Kalamkari is derived from the Persian words “Kalam,” meaning pen, and “Kari,” meaning craftsmanship. As the name suggests, a pen is used in Kalamkari, which is primarily practiced in Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh.