Sanjhi - MeMeraki.com
Sanjhi

The delicate art of papercutting said to have originated from the times of Lord Krishna has evolved over time from the sanctum of the temple...  Read More

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Sanjhi paper cutting is the traditional craft practiced in the region of Mathura-Vrindavan. The word Sanjhi is derived from the word saaj, saja or sajavat, all of which mean decoration. Alternatively, it also means sanjha or evening, which is the time when Sanjhi is traditionally made.
The craft of Sanjhi originated as a folk art form practiced by the unmarried girls for a good husband and children. The folk tradition involves the creation of Sanjhi on the walls using stones and mirrors on a cow dung base. Eventually with the rise of Vallabhacharya sect and the growth of Bhakti movement in North India in the 15th an 16th century, the craft came to be associated with Vaishnavas in the form of temple traditions. It takes it roots back to the divine relationship of Radha-Krishna. Hence, the two traditions of Sanjhi are folk tradition and temple tradition.
The motifs used in sanjhi revolve around the stories of Krishna up until his departure from Vrindavan. Hence, the scenes depicted are from Vrindavan and include peacocks, monkeys, cows, kadamba trees, and the river Yamuna. The sanjhi also have creepers and floral borders. Later it came to include the motifs inspired from the Mughal patterns such as jali work, and the Persian way of depicting animals and flowers.
The process of preparing sanjhi involves a lot of precision, even though the only tools used in the process is a pair of scissors. Traditionally, no sketch was prepared for the Sanjhi cuttings and it was prepared based on the thought process and feelings of the artist himself. The creation of sanjhi is an expression of love and devotion to the almighty. Today, the Sanjhi artists are experimenting with different mediums to display the sanjhi such as glass, mirrors and frames.
The process of preparing sanjhi involves a lot of precision, even though the only tools used in the process is a pair of scissors and paper.

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