A Federation of Rural Artisans
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Crafts of SurendranagarSTONEWARE
The arid landscape of Surendranagar forms the perfect setting for the starkly beautiful craftsmanship of the Sompura stone carvers. Working on simple white limestone, these artisans are devoted to their work—drilling, moulding and cutting the hard material till they achieve the perfect form.
Traditionally, the Sompuras, also known as temple architects, were employed to embellish the walls and frescoes of temples with their carvings. They blended the ancient sciences of vastu shastra and shilp shastra to create edifices that are architectural wonders till date.
However, today's Sompuras have contemporized the art and also produce various modern day articles like stone furniture, pots, fountains, pillars and stands.
The skills of the Sompuras are centuries’ old and have been passed down through generations from father to son. Even today, small boys in the Wadhwan district of Surendranagar, use a hammer and chisel as their playthings, ensuring that the tradition lives on well into the next generation