Once upon a time, Old Delhi’s winding lanes echoed with the sounds of skilled artisans crafting masterpieces in tiny workshops. Though modernization has hushed many of these trades, some remnants survive in pockets.
Rediscovering these forgotten arts and their ageing ustads offers a rare glimpse into the area’s living heritage.
Kite-Making: Threading Creativity into the Skies
Lal Kuan bustled with the now rare sight of kite-makers once. Do you know the original kite-battling competitions used to happen here?
You’ll be shocked to know only one or two kite shops remain where delicate paper is marked and hand painted into colourful designs before being framed with bamboo strips.
Not only that, the special patang thread is coated by hand in a paste of rice, ash, and crushed glass for kite-fighting battles.
This meticulous craft once saw kites soar over Old Delhi’s roofs but is now an odd relic.
Dariba’s Jewellers: Masters of Intricate Jewellery
Do you know Dariba Kalan was once famed for its jewellery artistry? Craftsmen here could magically transform plain metal into ornate pieces studded with precious gems in intricate filigree and meenakari styles unique to Delhi.
You’ll be amazed that a few of the original jewellery shops remain where the click-clacking of hammers shaping delicate bangles and chains can still be heard distantly.
Their ancient tools and secrets of the trade are fading as younger generations shift away.
Kinari Bazaar: Weaving the Finest Zari Decorations
Kinari bazaar was once renowned for zari and kinari – the fine metallic weaving adorning bridal outfits. Do you know real pure zari was interwoven with silk using hands and tiny shuttles?
You’ll be surprised to find a few workshops still carrying forward the fading technique, though cheaper machine made zari has replaced the original craft.
Watching the tedious process reveals the sheer artistry behind the dazzling textiles, a far cry from mass produced garments today.
Lost Wonders of Urdu Calligraphy
The art of ornate Urdu calligraphy once flourished in Old Delhi’s scribal alleys. Do you know calligraphers trained for years to master elegant nastaliq script using bamboo quills and natural inks?
You’ll be amazed to know the lost technique of khattati involved carving Urdu poetry into marble slabs. Special tools were used to etch each letter delicately.
Though fewer Urdu stone carvers and calligraphers remain today, some still keep the tradition alive in Sui Walan, painstakingly practising their hypnotic craft.
Fading Chikankari Embroidery
Chandni Chowk was renowned for chikankari, the fine white embroidery on fabric from Lucknow. Do you know artisans did intricate stitching to form flowers, patterns and verses with nothing but a needle and thread?
You’ll be surprised to find some small shops selling exquisite chikankari pieces. But this dazzling craft is fading as modern printed substitutes replace hand embroidery.
Old Delhi’s living legacy of handicrafts and artisans who kept age-old arts alive is slowly dimming. Visiting the few remaining practitioners provides a poignant reminder of the area’s remarkable creative heritage before it disappears into memory.
