Indian handicraft industry is in engaged in the production of wood carvings, delicate ivories, brocades, glazed potteries, jeweleries, shawls, fine silks, silver works and much more. These traditional handicrafts of India have been patronized by kings and wealthy people and purchased by merchants for the admirers of other countries. The artistic handicraft industries have been established mostly in the provincial capitals or major court towns in the past.
In India some specific regions have been famous for exquisite products since a long period. Brocades of Ahmedabad, Varanasi and Murshidabad, silks of Varanasi, Surat, Mysore, Lucknow and Ahmedabad are very popular. Kashmir made shawls and carpets are also very renowned throughout the world. Glass bangles made at Firozabad are world famous. Enamelled jewellery of Jaipur is simply matchless. The enamelled work is also done on gold, copper and silver in Lucknow, Srinagar, Varanasi, Delhi and Alwar. Moreover, engraved brassware from Moradabad, Jaipur and Varanasi has a good market across the country.
Ivory and stone carving specifically on marble is traditional at several centres in cities like Jaipur and Delhi. Carving of sandal wood in Mysore is really charming and artistic. The traditional handicraft industry of India has brought pride to the country since several centuries. However, the seizure of the country by the British had badly affected the handicraft industry of India. Industrialization and the development in the communication system at that point of time further eliminated the handicraft industry to a large extent. Machine made foreign goods penetrated into each and every corner of the rural India.
But, after the independence of the country, the Government of India took appropriate measures for protecting the indigenous handicraft industry. The government provided financial assistance as well as all other facilities like providing expert advice to the workers. Huge efforts have been made to rehabilitate the artisans associated with the handicraft industry of India.