Dilip Guha, Hyderabad : MeMeraki, in collaboration with the Crafts Council of Telangana, proudly hosted a curated exhibition titled “Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories,” showcasing the diverse and rich traditions of Kalamkari art across India. The exhibition is on view from October 7 to 12, at the Crafts Council of Telangana, MLA Colony, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034.
MeMeraki, based in Gurugram, Haryana, is a ‘culture-tech’ platform enabling traditional rural artisans from the remotest corners of India to be digital creators for the first time in the creator economy via Content (online art & craft masterclasses, live classes) and E-commerce. With over 16,000 patrons worldwide, MeMeraki has the largest collection of traditional Indian artworks listed online for sale.
This special exhibition, “Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories”, brought together award-winning, generational master artists from across the country—including Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu—to spotlight the regional variations and spiritual significance of Kalamkari, an ancient art form whose name means “drawn with a pen.”
A major highlight of the exhibition is a rare 200-year-old Mata ni Pachedi from Gujarat—a ritual textile that offers visitors a rare opportunity to witness a sacred piece of India’s textile heritage.
Through intricate hand-painted narratives, floral and arabesque motifs, stylised figures, and ritual shrine cloths, the exhibition explores the many forms Kalamkari takes across regions. Whether through the storytelling traditions of Srikalahasti, the block-printing finesse of Machilipatnam, the shrine textiles of Gujarat, or the refined artistry of Karuppur Kalamkari from Tamil Nadu, the exhibition reveals how sacred lines and symbols have traversed centuries while retaining their spiritual essence.
“Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories is not just a celebration of artistic skill,” said Ms Yosha Gupta, Founder of Me-Meraki. “It is a tribute to the cultural memory embedded in every stroke of the kalam. This exhibition underscores how traditional arts continue to inspire contemporary imagination while preserving India’s rich heritage.”
What does it mean for a single line—drawn by hand or carved in wood—to traverse centuries, regions, and rituals, yet never look the same twice?
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“Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories is an invitation to explore the visual, spiritual, and material vocabularies of kalamkari, one of India’s most storied and regionally diverse textile traditions. This exhibition brings together seven master artists from four distinct schools—Srikalahasti, Machilipatnam, Gujarat (Mata ni Pachedi), and Tamil Nadu (Karuppur Kalamkari)—each carrying forward a lineage of practice shaped by context, devotion, and technique,” she added.
She explained that at first glance, the works may present a unified aesthetic: cotton cloths rich in iconography, natural dyes, and sacred motifs. But as one sees, the deeper narrative lies in the distinctions. In Srikalahasti, the brush flows freely, drawing out epics and divine tales in a continuous, calligraphic line. In Machilipatnam, rhythm is embedded in repetition—sacred forms stamped with precision using intricately carved blocks. In Gujarat, Mata ni Pachedi becomes a ritual object itself—bold, graphic, and deeply local, evoking the presence of deity and temple in fabric. And in Tamil Nadu’s rare Karuppur tradition, the textile recalls a more courtly elegance, where stylised figures and ornate patterning once adorned royalty and ritual.
“What binds these practices is not uniformity, but a shared reverence for the kalam—the tool, yes, but also the gesture. A pen, a block, a hand in motion. Through these lines, artists inscribe not only stories, but worldviews. One will encounter mythological scrolls, Trees of Life, leaping animals, and divine figures—but equally important are the silences between motifs, the negative spaces that hold time and touch,” she explained.
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Srikalahasti Kalamkari
Emerging from the sacred temple town of Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, this revered form of Kalamkari is distinguished by its intricate freehand line work, drawn entirely by hand using a bamboo pen known as the kalam. Each stroke is imbued with intention, transforming cloth into a canvas of devotion and storytelling.
Rooted in temple traditions and oral epics, Srikalahasti Kalamkari draws its themes from the vast tapestry of Hindu mythology—depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the divine pantheon of gods and goddesses. These artworks are not merely decorative; they are visual scriptures, carrying forward centuries of spiritual narrative and ritual symbolism.
Among its most cherished motifs is the Tree of Life, a powerful emblem of fertility, creation, and cosmic continuity. Bridging the earthly and the divine, it reflects the harmony between nature and spirituality, and remains a timeless symbol across generations.
This exhibition proudly presented the works of two legendary Master Artists who have shaped and sustained the Srikalahasti tradition:
Harinath N. – With over 35 years of artistic excellence, Harinath is celebrated for his nuanced interpretations of mythological themes. His mastery has earned him the National Kalidas Academy Award and the State Award, affirming his place among India’s foremost Kalamkari artists.
K. Siva Prasad Reddy – A luminary whose work is etched into the Limca Book of Records for creating the longest Kalamkari artwork, depicting 1,926 characters from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. His contributions have been honored with the National Award and the prestigious Shilpa Guru award.
Together, their creations embody the living legacy of Srikalahasti Kalamkari—where every line is a prayer, every panel a story, and every motif a bridge between the sacred and the artistic.
Machilipatnam Kalamkari
A historic block-printed textile art from Andhra Pradesh, Machilipatnam Kalamkari traces its roots to the Golconda Sultanate and the maritime trade of the Coromandel Coast. Influenced by Persian aesthetics and European patrons, it evolved into one of India’s most prized craft exports.
At its core is the use of hand-carved wooden blocks to imprint intricate patterns onto cloth, brought to life through natural dyeing and repeated washing. The art is known for its ornamental beauty—floral creepers, geometric designs, and Persian-inspired motifs that once adorned royal courts and sailed across continents.
This exhibition featured the work of Varun Kumar Pitchuka, a third-generation artist who upholds his family’s legacy while infusing the tradition with contemporary flair
Karuppur Kalamkari
A rare and exquisite branch of Kalamkari, Karuppur Kalamkari hails from near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, with origins tracing back to the Chola dynasty. Later patronised by the Nayaks and Marathas, it flourished as a ceremonial textile for temples and royal courts.
Hand-painted using bamboo brushes and natural dyes from vegetable and mineral sources, its motifs include mythological scenes, temple architecture, birds, animals, and floral borders—each infused with devotion and artistic depth.
This exhibition featured the work of K. Lakshmi Narayan, a direct descendant of Chola artisans. With over 35 years of experience, he remains a steadfast guardian of this tradition, honoured with District and State awards for his lifelong dedication.
Mata ni Pachedi
Mata ni Pachedi, meaning “Behind the Mother Goddess,” is a sacred textile tradition from Gujarat, practised by the Devipujak community. These hand-painted temple cloths emerged as portable shrines, allowing worship of various goddesses beyond temple sanctums.
Painted on unbleached cotton using natural dyes, the traditional palette—red for maternal force, black for protection, and white for purity—carries deep symbolic meaning. Each Pachedi is a living testament to faith, storytelling, and community memory.
This exhibition showcased works by three master artists:
Dilip Chittara – A fifth-generation artist, honoured with State and National Awards.
Sanjay Chittara – A key figure in the contemporary revival, also a recipient of State and National Awards.
Vasant Manubhai Chittara – An eighth-generation artist whose journey began at age ten, recognised for his devotion and artistry.
Together, they uphold Mata ni Pachedi as a sacred dialogue between art, faith, and the eternal Mother.
The exhibition invited art lovers, cultural enthusiasts, and the general public to engage with India’s living textile traditions—rooted in devotion, mythology, and identity—through the eyes of the master artisans who have kept them alive for generations.
