Rachana Sankhalekar Sohil Vinayak
The Copper Touch
What is craft There are three aspects of human creativity - art, craft, and science. Art relies on intuitive sensing, vision and expression. Craft relies on a sophisticated technique. Science relies on knowledge. A craft employs acquired skills, which takes a certain period of time to master, and the product is usually made either by hand or by using simple tools. The craft can either be pursued as a pasttime or a profession. In the earlier times, craftspersons used to be held in high esteem within the society. This was because a high level of education was required to learn the skills of their craft. Since their profession is not self-sufficient, like agriculture, the craftspersons engage in trade. A major reason for the higher status of the craftspeople in the society was that they provided the general populace with functional products, which had use in their everyday life. Therefore, after the Industrial Revolution, their prestige in the society dwindled, and the quality of their lifestyle diminished. At present, the craft products have a usage either as artifacts, or as alternatives for people dissatisfied with the quality or aesthetics of mass produced goods. So there is a division of labour between mass produced and crafted products.
Introduction of Pune
A couple of years ago, Pune had been given the moniker of ‘Pensioner’s Paradise’, as it provided an idyllic abode to those who had retired and wanted to live a peaceful life in a wholesome environment, such as government officers, civil engineers and army personnel. Now, the city has turned metropolitan, being a boiling pot of education sector, industry, information technology, entertainment, and so on.
The city, called the ‘cultural capital’ of Maharashtra, is also an eclectic mix of capitalism and spiritualism, ancient and modern. The city is also called the Queen of the Deccan, due to its historical, social, cultural and political importance and its picturesque surroundings in the Deccan. The beginning of Pune’s economic and cultural prosperity began at around 1730 AD, when Shivaji and the Peshwas, who served as the prime ministers to the Mauryan dynasty, established their seat of power over here.
History The earliest documents of Pune’s history are the copper plates, dated 858 AD and 868 AD, showing that by the 8th century there existed an agricultural settlement at this site, known as ‘Punnaka’, possibly giving the name to the city itself. The plates suggest the rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty over this region. The Pataleshwar rock-cut temple complex was built during this era.
Pataleshwar Rock Cut Temple, Shivaji Nagar, Pune
Influence of the Maratha Era In the time of the Marathas, Pune was a part of the ‘jagir’, or fiefdom, granted to Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in 1599.
Shivneri Fort, Pune
Shivaji himself, born in Shivneri fort near Pune, was brought up by his mother in this city. After the continuous struggle over this region between the Mughals and the Marathas betweeen 1660 AD to 1705 AD, it was declared as the capital of the Maratha Empire by the Peshwas in 1707.
Bhosale administration He stabilized the revenue collection and administrative systems of areas around Pune and in neighbouring area of the Maval region . In addition, he developed effective methods to manage disputes and to enforce law and order. Dadoji Konddeo
Clockwise from top left:
Kasba Peth, Somwar Peth, Raviwar Peth, Shanivar Peth
In 1626 AD, Shahaji Raje Bhosale, father of Shivaji, appointed Rango Bapuji Dhadphale as the administrator of Pune. He was one of the first main developers of the town, overseeing the construction of some markets and residential areas like Kasba Peth, Somwar Peth, Raviwar Peth, and Shaniwar Peth. After the destruction of the town in raids by the Adil Shahi dynasty in 1630 AD and again between 1636 AD and 1647 AD, Dadoji Konddeo, the successor to Dhadphale, oversaw the reconstruction of the town.
Left: Lal Mahal; Right: Kasba Ganpati temple
Construction on the Lal Mahal began in 1631 AD. The Lal Mahal was completed in 1640 AD. Jijabai is said to have commissioned the building of the Kasba Ganapati temple. The Ganesha idol consecrated at this temple has been regarded as the presiding deity, or ‘gramadevata’ of the city.
Establishment and development of the Maratha Empire Despite bitter opposition from some Maratha Jagirdars, Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati in 1674 AD, thus founding the Maratha Empire. He oversaw further development in Pune, including the construction of Guruwar Peth, Somwar Peth, Ganesh Peth, and Ghorpade Peth. Shivaji encouraged the development of dams in Parvati and Kondhwa regions of Pune for agricultural purposes. Pune and its surrounding villages were the major recruitment areas for Shivaji’s army between 1645 AD and 1680 AD. Between 1660 AD and 1670 AD the town was captured by Mughal General Shaista Khan, but was recaptured by the Marathas in 1670 AD after the Battle of Sinhagad. Shivaji often used Pune as his transit base during his major campaigns such as Varhad-Karanja (1673), Ahmednagar District (1675), Karnataka (1677), and Jalna (1679). During the 27-yearlong conflict between the Marathas and the Mughals, the town was occupied by Aurangzeb from 1703 to 1705. During this time, the name of the town was changed to Muhiyabad. Two years later, once again the Marathas recaptured Sinhagad fort and later Pune city from the Mughals after 1670 AD. Top to bottom: Guruwar Peth, Ganesh Peth, Ghorpade Peth
Pune - the land of Peshwas After the death of Shivaji, there was a turmoil in the Deccan due to the campaigns launched by Aurangzeb. The first Peshwa, Balaji Vishvanath, was living in Saswad, a village about 15 km far away from Pune. However, because Saswad was an inconvenient place to rule, from 1713 to 1818 the Maratha kingdom shifted its capital from Saswad to Pune, under the rule of the Peshwa Baji Rao I. He was the prime minister of Chhatapati Shahu of Satara, the grandson of Shivaji.
To strengthen their position in Pune, Baji Rao I built Shaniwar Wada on the right bank of the Mutha river.
Left: Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath; Right: Peshwa Bajji Rao I
Shaniwar Wada The construction of Shaniwar Wada was completed in 1730. The patronage of the Maratha Peshwas resulted great expansion of Pune with the construction of many temples and bridges in the city, including the Lakdi Pul and the temples on Parvati Hill.
Shaniwar Wada, Pune
Left: Lakdi Pul; Right: temples on Parvati Hill
Bajirao Peshwa’s legacy Peshwa Baji Rao I also constructed an underground aqueduct to bring water from Katraj Lake to Shaniwar Wada. The aqueduct is still operational. Pune prospered as a city during the reign of Nanasaheb Peshwa.
Bajirao Peshwa’s statue outside Shaniwar Palace, Pune
Decline of Peshwa Era Top: Parvati Hill; Bottom left: Saras Baug; Bottom right: Heera Baug
He developed Saras Baug, Heera Baug, Parvati Hill and new commercial, trading, and residential localities. Sadashiv Peth, Narayan Peth, Rasta Peth, and Nana Peth were developed in this era.
The Peshwa’s influence in India declined after the defeat of Maratha forces in the Battle of Panipat but Pune remained the seat of power until their final defeat by the British East India Company.
Pune - hub of social reform Pune was prominently associated with the struggle for Indian independence. In the period between 1875 and 1910, the city was a major centre of agitation led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The city was also a centre for social reform led by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, feminist Tarabai Shinde, Dhondo Keshav Karve and Pandita Ramabai. They demanded the abolition of caste prejudice, equal rights for women, harmony between the Hindu and Muslim communities, and better schools for the poor.
Left: Mahatma Jyotirao Phule; Right: Tarabai Shinde
Left: Gopal Krishna Gokhale; Right: Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Left: Dhondo Keshav Karve; Right: Pandita Ramabai
The Tilak era (1880-1920)
Pune’s history and its cultural life has been greatly influnced by Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and his other colleagues like V. K. Chiplunkar, M.B. Namjoshi, G.G. Agarkar, N.C. Kelkar, Prin. V.S. Apte, and other great persons like M.G. Ranade, Jyotiba Phule, G.K. Gokhale, Lokhitvadi, R.G. Bhandarkar. In this period Lokmanya Tilak plays a main role. In 1881, he started the newspapers called Kesari and Maratha. He also established Fergusson College in 1885 and New English School in 1880. He was imprisonment several times on the charge of ‘rajadroha’, or traitor to the rule. From 1908 to 1914, Tilak was imprisonment at Mandalay because of great dissatisfaction and political turmoil all over india. As a result, he was made the scapegoat since he was an all-India leader. He struggled with determination for the freedom of India at the Indian National Congress and various other platforms. He stated various institutions in Pune during his peroid. He also stated Ganesh and Shivjayanti festivals to bring the masses together. So the period from 1880 to 1920 is called as the Tilak era in the history of Pune.
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
After his death various prominent institutions were stated in Pune, like Tilak Smark Mandir, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Tilak Statue at Mandal, Tilak Swimming Tank, Tilak College of Education, and Tilak Road.
Pune now - Industries Pune is now known as growing industrial city of india. Because Mumbai was full of industries and now it has been locked by the Government of Maharashtra, now the industrialists prefer Pune for starting new industries. After 1970, Pune emerged as the leading engineering city of the country with
Left: Tata Motors Industry; Right: Bajaj Industry
Left: Kirloskar Brothers Limited; Right: Bharat Forge Limited
Left: Alfa Laval; Right: Atlas Copco
Telco (now Tata), Bajaj, Kinetic, Bharat Forge, Alfa Laval, Atlas Copco, Kirloskar Oil Engines, Kirloskar Brothers, Philips, Sandvik, and Thermax expanding their infrastructure. At Bhosari-Hadapsar Nagar Road, the industrial estates have been developed. By 2005 Pune overtook both Mumbai and Chennai to have more than 200,000 IT professionals. The year 2008 saw huge development near the Chakan and Talegaon region as Multinational Corporations (MNCs) like General Motors, Volkswagen and Fiat have set up facilities near Pune. Additionally, in 2008 the Commonwealth Youth Games took place in Pune, which encouraged additional development in the north-west region of the city and added a few Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses on Pune’s road.
Pune now - Education By 1970 the city had gained the reputation of being the ‘Oxford of the East’ due to a large number of educational institutes. It became a place for quality education with the advent of the British, who established their educational system of formal school and colleges. Left: Fergusson College; Right: Deccan College
Poona Sanskrit College, now known as Deccan College was started in Vishrambagwada in 1851. Agarkar, Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gohale and other such leaders of Maharashtra were educated at the Deccan College. After realizing the importance of national education, they established New English School in 1880, Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya in 1883, High School for Indian Girls in 1884, Fergusson College in 1885, and other well-known education institutions like Bhave High School, Shivaji Maratha High School, and Sarasvati Mandir.
Left: Huzurpaga Girls High School; Right: Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya
Left: Bhave High School; Right: Saraswati Mandir
Altitude and precipitation From sea level, Pune is located at a height of 560 m. It is located at the western portion of the Deccan plateau, situated on the leeward side of the Sahyadri mountain range.
Due to the mountaneous terrain, there are several hills in and around Pune. The tallest hill, Vetal Tekdi, is situated at the border of the city. Its height is 792 m. The second highest point, Parvati Hill, is at a height of 640 m, and offers a panoramic view of the whole city.
This range forms a barrier between Pune and the Arabian Sea, insulating it from the winds across the sea, and casting a rain shadow over the region.
Leeward winds
The monsoon season in Pune lasts typically from June to September, with July being the wettest month. It receives moderate rainfall, comparatively lower to the coastal regions of Maharashtra, and maintains a temperature of 22 to 28 °C.
Top: Panoramic view of Pune from Vetal Hill;
Bottom: Vetal Hill
Some other hilll stations near Pune include Lonavala, Panchghani, Mahabaleshwar, and Matheran.
Climate
Main water bodies
Pune has a hot semi-arid climate bordering with tropical wet and dry with average temperatures ranging between 20 to 28 °C.
The three main rivers running across Pune are the Mutha river, the Mula river, and the Mula-Mutha river.
Pune experiences three seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter.
The Mula river flanks the northern bounddary of the city, while the Mutha river enters the city from the south-west, running diagonally across the center of the city, where it merges with Mula river to form the Mula-Mutha river.
Typical summer months are from March to May, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 38 °C. The warmest month in Pune is April. Although summer doesn’t end until May, the city often receives heavy thundershowers in May, and the humidity remains high. Even during the hottest months, the nights are usually cool due to Pune’s high altitude.
The Mula-Mutha river then flows westward outside the city, to then join the Bhima river.
The monsoon lasts from June to October, with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from 22 to 28 °C. Most of the 722 mm of annual rainfall in the city falls between June and September, and July is the wettest month of the year. Hailstorms are also common in this region. Winter begins in November. November in particular is referred to as the Rosy Cold. The daytime temperature hovers around 28 °C while night temperature is below 10 °C for most of December and January, often dropping to 5 to 6 °C.
Course of Mula, Mutha, and the Mula-Mutha rivers
Flora According to a study, Pune has a large number of herb species, estimated to consist of about 600 species. Pune has many tree species that grow in parks, on roadsides and in personal gardens around the city. The Chafa trees and the Peepal trees at Parvati hill are telling of Pune’s history, as they are said to have been planted in the Peshwa era. The Forest Nursery near the Empress Garden has the Pandhari Sawar which are said to be heritage trees. An Anjan tree also grows here. The tree with a massive trunk seen at the junction of Bajirao Road and Tilak Road is a Boabab tree. A lonely Black Pearl grows in the Pune University Botanical garden.
An area rich in plant life is Vetal hill. The forest found in this area is dry deciduous. Apart from native plants, there are other important species as well in this area but they were not native and were planted here earlier. Interestingly, there is a complete absence of ‘epiphytic’ species in this area. Epiphytic plants grow on other plants and use them for physical support. The presence of Herb species is at its prime in the monsoon season. There are also parasite species found here. There was a study carried out on the diversity of flora in Vetal Hill in 1997. According to this study, there were 416 species of flowering plants belonging to 101 different ‘families’. There are some species which are endangered.
Left to right: Chafa tree, Peepal tree, Anjan tree, Baobab tree, Black Pearl
Fauna Among the animal kingdom of Pune, the various categories found are aquatic insects, snails, ants, butterflies, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Aquatic insects and mollusks For aquatic insects, the dominant group were those that prefer polluted water, marshy area and water-body with vegetation cover respectively. Some other species were found to be quite common in relatively unpolluted water-bodies and parts of rivers. In the molluscs, viviparidae, lymnaedae and thiaroidae were found dominant. Among thiaroidae, Thiara scabra and Paludonus inflatus, and Gyralus labiatus from planorbidae were very rare. Aquatic insects and molluscs are highly sensitive to water quality. Certain groups of aquatic insects and molluscs prefer unpolluted water while the other prefer the polluted water.
Ants Provided the variety of habitats available, the diversity of the genus types of ants in Pune is nearly twice the diversity as compared to even areas with low human impact such as Bhamburda and Pachgaon hill forests or banks of Pashan lake. The ant species found in the tree plantations are diverse, while the rest harbour about half the generic richness, with habitations equaling the agriculture and grasslands. Thus, residential area alongside tree plantations is richest in ant fauna. Few genera are confined to few localities or habitat types, such as Pheidole and Cryptopone recorded only from hill forests and thus more vulnerable. Myrmicaria, the biting, small, red ants are most commonly seen everywhere, even foraging in houses and gardens. Tapinoma and Catalaucas are also found right up to the kitchen. Leptogenys ants are seen foraging in gardens and plantations. (picture of Pheidole) (picture of Cryptopone) (picture of Myrmicaria) (picture of Tapinoma) (picture of Catalaucas) (picture of Leptogenys)
Butterfly
Fishes
The butterfly species of Pune, reported to be around 170, are found in varied habitats such as Forests, Scrubs, Grasslands, Plantations, Agriculture, Wild (combination of Forests, Scrubs, and Grasslands), and Impacted (combination of Plantation and Agriculture).
Among the aquatic life, about 110 species of fishes have been found in Pune. The industries located near the Mula river, dumping their inorganic salts and the heavy metals, have probably resulted in absence of all fish species except Oreochromis mossambica near Khadki.
A majority of those species are found in the forest and wild areas. Some habitat specialist species found in forests are the Bushbrown, and a few species of Yellows and Flats.
While the organic pollution in the rivers has affected most fishes negatively, populations of few species such as Heteropneustus fossilis that can withstand organic pollution due to its breathing ability are even increasing.
Some habitat generalist species, found in various kinds of areas, are Common Rose, Lime Butterfly, species of Grass Blues etc. (picture of bushbrown) (picture of yellows) (picture of flats) (picture of common rose) (picture of lime butterfly) (picture of grass blues)
The introduction of commercially important fish such as Cyprinus carpio communis, Oreochromis mossambica have probably driven away fishes such as Labeo fimbriatus. (picture of Oreochromis mossambica) (picture of Heteropneustus fossilis) (picture of Cyprinus carpio communis)
Amphibians Amphibians, being extremely sensitive to temperature and humidity, indicate the environmental changes of a region through any change in their own population. From a record of 13 amphibian species from Pune City, presently nine occur only outside the city while four of them are recorded only beyond 20 km from city centre. Five species could not be presently retraced in localities or elsewhere and may be locally extinct. These include Rana hexadactyla, Bufo stomaticus, B. parietalis, B. microtympanum and Philatus bombayensis. (picture of Rana hexadactyla) (picture of Bufo stomaticus) (picture of B. parietalis) (picture of B. microtympanum) (picture of Philatus bombayensis)
Reptiles A total of 52 reptilian species have been reported from the Pune area, about two third of which are snakes. Encroachment of grassland and barren lands i.e. so called wasteland along city fringes by urbanisation has affected species such as Saw scaled viper. Habitat loss includes deforestation that especially affects tree dwelling species such as Bamboo pit viper, Cat and Vine snakes. However, habitat of grassland dwellers like Racer snakes is lost due to monoculture plantations around Pune, especially on hillocks. Saw scaled vipers are susceptible to rock excavation along hills, while soil extraction from riverbed and banks affects shield tail and worm snakes. Keelback snakes seem susceptible to chemical water pollution. (picture of saw-scaled viper) (picture of bamboo pit viper) (picture of cat snake) (picture of vine snake) (picture of racer snakes) (picture of keelback snakes) (picture of chameleon) (picture of turtle) (picture of monitor lizard)
Birds Pune has 332 species of birds. There are six major habitat types that include Forest, Scrub, Grassland, Tree plantation (including garden, orchards and avenues), Houses, Agriculture and Waterbodies. The first three habitat types comprise the wilderness zones with low human impacts while the next three comprise the impacted zone on land. Blackwinged stilt are most abundant in polluted water where hardly any other species survive. Well-wooded compounds with large, tall trees are popular roosting sites for communal birds like Crows, Mynas, Herons and Egrets, Parakeets and Kites. These are some of the common bird species nested in human habitations, like houses and buildings (picture of House Sparrow) (picture of Blue Rock Pigeon) (picture of Roseringed Parakeet) (picture of Common Myna) (picture of Jungle Myna) (picture of Dusky Crag Martin) (picture of House Swift) (picture of Barn Swallow)
Some more bird species habiting in shrubs, bushes, and trees in backyards (picture of Tailor bird) (picture of Ashy Wren Warbler) (picture of Redvented Bulbul) (picture of Redwhiskered Bulbul) (picture of Munia species) (picture of Coppersmith Barbet) (picture of Little brown Dove) (picture of Koel (in crow’s nest))
The Redwhiskered Bulbul, once considered to be uncommon within the city has now started replacing the Redvented Bulbul as around Bibwewadi and Sinhagad road this due to loss of treecover on the city outskirts. Little Brown Dove also seems to be declining.
Mammals Pune urban area hosts 65 species of mammals, ranking highest amongst India metropolis. Despite the extinction of few species and general population decline or retreat, rodents, particularly rats and mice appear flourishing. Squirrels can be spotted aplenty during the day, unlike most other species. Fruit bats have benefited most due to urbanisation, where home gardens bear many fruit trees. Besides carnivores, herbivores inhibiting hills but foraging on crops in the plains are main sufferers hill deforestation. (picture of squirrel) (picture of mice) (picture of fruit bat) (picture of flying foxes) (picture of boars) (picture of humans)
Urban Heat Island Effect The Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect refers to a considerable increase in temperature of an urban area as compared to its surrounding rural areas. This spike in temperature occurs due to human activities. The temperature difference usually is larger at night than during the day, and is most apparent when winds are weak. UHI is most noticeable during the summer and winter. Though heat islands may form on any rural or urban area, and at any spatial scale, cities are favoured, since their surfaces are prone to release large quantities of heat. Nonetheless, the UHI negatively impacts not only residents of urban-related environs, but also humans and their associated ecosystems located far away from cities. In fact, UHIs have been indirectly related to climate change due to their contribution to the greenhouse effect, and therefore, to global warming.
It is well-known that the progressive replacement of natural surfaces by built surfaces, through urbanization, constitutes the main cause of UHI formation. Natural surfaces are often composed of vegetation and moisture-trapping soils. Therefore, they utilize a relatively large proportion of the absorbed radiation in the evapotranspiration process and release water vapour that contributes to cool the air in their vicinity. In contrast, built surfaces are composed of a high percentage of non-reflective and water-resistant construction materials. As consequence, they tend to absorb a significant proportion of the incident radiation, which is released as heat. The temperature difference between Pune and the adjoining regions, like Lonavala, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Alandi-Devachi is distinctly noticeable. Also, there has been a temperature rise of 2-3 °C within a decade, as the industries have been blooming in the area. Therefore, the overall hot and dry climate at present is vastly different from the pleasant and cool climate of the erstwhile Pensioner’s Paradise.
Important areas around site As in most cities dating back many centuries, there are considerable numbers of historically important buildings in Pune. The map on the left hand side points out some of them, listed by The Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
1) Gupchup Ganpati Temple 2) Amruteshwar Temple 3) Dhakta Sheik Salla 4) Shaniwar Wada 5) Mote Mangal Karyalaya 6) Tambat Courtyard 7) Kanya Shala 8) Pawar Wada 9) Mujumdar Wada 10) Tambat Ali 11) Narsinha Bhavan & Temple 12) Yelekar Wada 13) Lal Mahal 14) Nana Wada 15) Biniwale Wada 16) Patwardhar Wada 17) Prabhat Talkies 18) Jogeshwari Temple 19) Belbag Temple 20) Deo Wada 21) Vasant Talkies 22) Nana Houd 23) Kasba Ganpati Temple
24) Kedareshwar Temple 25) Hari Mandir 26) Pasodya Vithoba Temple 27) Dagdi Wada 28) Prarthana Samaj 29) Phadke Wada 30) Gurdacha Ganpati Temple 31) Parekh Traders 32) Purshottam Niwas 33) Damodar Bhagwandas 34) Hariramji Maharj Haveli 35) Radha Krishna Temple 36) Kala Ram Temple Complex 37) Dutta Temple, Parab Niwas 38) Laxminarayan Temple 39) Dutta Temple 40) Kala Ram Temple Complex 41) Belbaug (old) 42) Nageshwar Temple 43) Trishund Ganpati Temple 44) Dharmashala/Talim 45) Ramgir Gosavi Temple
Brief introduction India is the largest brass-making country in the world. This art has been practiced in India for over 5 million years. In the field of brass work a variety of styles are seen in different parts of India. The Northern & North Eastern industries of brass include Moradabad , Aligarh, Hathras and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh; Mayurbhang, Dhenkenal, Keonjhar and Sundergarh in Orissa; Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan; Jagadhari and Rewari in Haryana; Udhampur, Sambha and Bhansali in Jammu & Kashmir; Kurkhihar in Bihar; Hazo and Sarthebari in Assam; Purulia, Bankura, Birbhumi, Murshidabad in West Bengal and Delhi etc. The important clusters of the brass in the Southern and Western regions are Pembertha and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh; Bidar, Negamangala, mysore and Gadag in Karnataka (Bidriwar); Swamimalai, Nachiarkoil, Madurai, Kumbakonam, Tirupur and Tanjore in Tamil Nadu; Ambarnath, Thane, Kalyan and Nasik in Maharashtra; Trichur in Kerala; Jamnagar in Gujarat and Pondicherry, etc. Bogaras and Kasaras In the Kannada language, Bogara means one who deals in brass or copper vessels. In Marathi, one who sells bangles is called a Kasara. Since the Bogara and the Kasara families of have inter-marriages, in Marathi the term Kasara is used synonymously for both bangle-sellers and vessel-sellers. However, the Kasaras are often discriminated against, being considered of a lower caste.
Otari community The Otari community distributed mainly in the Maharashtrian regions of Satara, Pune, Sanghli. They prefer to live in urban areas where they can get sufficient work to earn their livelihood. Their traditional occupation involves melting of aluminium and copper to make utensils. However, they are also known to make copper statues of prominent figures like Shivaji Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar. In the present day, many have ventured into white-collar jobs, and other sectors such as agriculture and trade and business. Some of them sell images of bronze on the order of customers. Tambat community The Tambat community is a coppersmith caste, predominantly found in Maharashtra. They take their name from the Marathi word ‘tamba’, which means copper. They are also called Twashta Kasar. The word ‘twashta’ came from ‘Twashta Rishi’, who was the chief engineer of the gods. Their hereditary occupation is to make water pots of copper and brass, though at present they also make fancy designer showpieces of the same material. Tambats were brought to Pune by the Peshwas during the 18th century, to make copper stamps for their empire. Initially four or five families moved to Pune but their numbers grew and eventually the tambats made this particular patch of Pune their own. The colonies where the community lives and practices its profession are called Tambat Ali.
Origin of craft Tambats are part of an age old social system known as ‘Bara Balutedars’. The Bara Balutedar system was a servant-cum-caste system in the villages of Maharashtra, which divided the workload into twelve different groups of occupation, to cater to the needs of the urban society. The Tambats are craftsmen working and dealing in utensils of copper, bronze, brass, etc. In the early period the system was based on ‘barter’ where people would exchange goods for other goods or services. If someone wants to get a copper vessel then he would go to the Kasar or coppersmith and provide the old material. The Kasar would then prepare the utensil by adding any new metal if necessary as per the need of the patron. The person would take the utensil and give the Kasar a bagful of grains as remuneration.
On invitation of the Peshwas the Tambats came some 400 years ago, when Pune was being established as their administrative headquarters.The Tambats came from regions like Thane, Colaba, and Ratnagiri. Before the Tambats, this neighbourhood was occupied partly by Brahmins and jewellers. The initial arrival of the Tambats attracted the new arrivals to this area and thus the Tambat Ali was formed. Initially there were about 200 Tambats in the Tambat Ali who had their residences and work places in the same premises. The practice continues even today and can be referred to as the living heritage of this city. This profession saw a boom upto as late as the start of the 21st century. The invention of stainless steel and plastic has spelled a decline of this profession. The neglected profession is now seeing a revival and new interest in items like ‘ghangal’ (water vessel) used for interior decoration in modern houses, hotels, etc. Traditionally, copper and brass articles made in Pune can be arranged under fourteen groups, those used in the kitchen, those used in eating and drinking, those used in storing and carrying water, articles used in serving betel, musical instruments, measures, lamps, dishes and vessels used in worship, images, peasant jewelry, toilet requisites, appliances used in the drinking hall but not for eating or drinking, miscellaneous ware and toys. Today, only a few of the above varieties are manufactured because of lack of demand.
Housing Physically, Tambat Ali is an interconnected maze of streets and buildings with narrow spaces and wider chowks where the coppersmiths have their workshops and living quarters. Pune is the most important place for tambat craft in Maharashtra. They achieved this status initially as a direct result of Peshwa patronage and later because of the introduction of railways during the British occupation and thus the need for copper utensils through trade.
Housing today Most of the Tambats today are residing in Tambat Ali in Kasba Peth. It is the oldest part of Pune. Even during the earlier period many professional craftsmen came and settled around the Shaniwar Wada and hence in Kasba Peth many craftsmen like Tambats and Kumbhars reside. Brass and copper workers number 2320 mostly live in the Kasba Peth, Shukrawar Peth, Vetal Peth, Budhwar Peth, Ghorpade Peth and Rasta Peth.
The tambats of Pune specialize in ‘mathar kaam’ which is the art of beating copper to make it strong. The coppersmiths of Tambat Ali are an intrinsic part of Kasba Peth and a significant feature of Pune’s heritage tapestry.
This number includes approximately 810 tambats or makers of large articles, 500 Jingaras (connected with horses), 50 casters and 960 Kasaras. The hereditary copper brass and bell metal workers in Pune, the Tambats, Jingaras, Otaris and Kasaras are all quite easy going people, who speak colloquial Marathi and mostly live in single storeyed houses.
Mathar kaam, which requires patience and practice
Houses of Tambat Ali
Influence of craft “Potphode,” writes Chandana Bannerjee in her article, “an artisan in his fifties, shows me an ancient water heater that the family has preserved. It has lost its coppery sheen and is swathed in a layer of dust, but the bumb still stands testimony to its sturdy past.” “The neglected old copper heater takes me back to the days of the Peshwas. I visualize the women in rich silk sarees and pearls, cooking in burnished copper pots, storing their favourite snack-betel nuts-in intricately-carved copper boxes, sipping their evening tea or saffron milk from heavy copper or brass tumblers.”
Bhalchandra Kadu, a prominent copper ‘artist’, is more than willing to share his enthusiasm and knowledge of the craft to any interested party.
He is not interested in making the traditional water containers and pots. Rather, his works include more experimental products. In his own words, he is “not a coppersmith, but an artist.”
Copper ‘bamb’, or water heater
The bird species, coppersmith barbet, is also called ‘tambat’ in Marathi, due to the way it pecks at the wood, which resembles the ‘tonk tonk tonk tonk’ sound of a tambat striking his copper vessel.
Kadu is the most common surname in the Tambat community. The tribe, originaly belonging to the Konkan region, settled in Pune on the invitation of the Peshwas, and have since established their trade and presence in Pune through Tambat Ali.
Family tree - Mr Kadu Shri Bhalchandra Kadu, the 65-year old, silver-haired artist, is quite a celebrity figure among design students. He is known in his community and among designers as one of the most innovative artistes. This is seen in the kind of products his artisans are working on: exquisite water carafes, nature-inspired candle holders, lamp shades, trinket boxes, floaters, and so on. Most of these can be found displayed proudly across the shelves of artefact shops throughout Western India. Mr Kadu shares linkages with Aksharnandan and Sahyadri schools. Students from design schools, as well as crafts people from other countries, visit him. They also sometimes undergo short internships with him. His family, however, does not share the same enthusiasm for the craft. Like the numerous other families whose traditional occupation was being coppersmiths, his children do not share his interest to pursue the craft, opting instead for white-collar jobs. Mr Kadu has one son and one daughter. The son, Nikhil, is 30 years old, and is currently doing a course in MBA. His daughter is a practicing Interior Designer. However, in a stroke of irony, she dislikes the use of copper in her interior work. Bhalchandra Kadu is the 7th generation among his family to continue the hereditary profession.
Bhalchandra Kadu aspires to open a school, which will teach any person, with the willingness and talent, the art of the coppersmiths. This will spread the art throughout the youngsters, not just the Tambat community.
Attire - men As Maharashtra is a vast state, the people of this colourful state wears different types of costumes, take different cuisines, has different forms of dances and music according to the physical features of their locality. Generally, men wear dhoti and pheta in olden days, while women wear choli and saree. But with the change of time, young Maharashtrians too are fast attracting to the latest fashions imported from the western countries. Men wear dhoti with a shirt known as the pheta in Maharashtra. They also wear headdress, which is a folded cap of made of cotton, silk or woolen cloth. It can also be a freshly folded turban known as rumal, patka, phet.
Left: pheta; Right: Gandhi cap
Left: dhoti; Right: waistcoat
Pagadi, the prepared form of turban was also used to wear, but it is rarely used this days. Bandi, a type of waistcoat or jacket is also worn over the shirt. Dhoti is made of cotton cloth, which is nearly two and half to three meters long, with or without borders on both the sides. A type of dhoti, which has five tucks, three into the waistband at the two sides and in front, while the loose end is tucked in front and behind is very popular amongst the Maratha Brahmans. For durable hand-made dhotis, Nagpur-made are most popular.
Attire - women Women in Maharashtra wear saree, which is nine yards in length, and a short-sleeved blouse, which is also known as choli. The choli covers about only the half part of the torso. Generally, this is the costume of elderly Marathi women. Saree is known as ‘lugade’ in Marathi. Its width is nearly 42-45 inches having two lengthwise borders kant or kinar, and also two breadth-wise borders, padar, at the two ends, of which one is more decorated than the other. Now, with the coming of new fashion, sarees of five or six yards in length have now become fashionable among young ladies in the urban areas. These are worn cylindrically over a parkar or ghagara, also called petticoat. The design of choli has also changed, and using of designer blouses, polkas, and jumpers are popular. With the impact of Bollywood and fast emerging trend of world fashion, women living in cities have become more westernized. Working women wear chudidars, pants, and skirts these days, which are more comfortable.
Left: lugade; Right: petticoat
Jewellery and ornaments As Maharashtra is the land of Marathas and Peshwas, women wear traditional jewelleries derived from these two dynasties. Another very much popular jewellery for the Marathi women is Kolhapuri saaj, a special type of necklace. It is designed in other parts of Maharashtra as well, but Kolhapuri saaj is the most famous one.
Clockwise from top left: Kolhapuri saaj, patlya, bangdya, tode
Different types of bangles like ‘patlya’, ‘bangdya’ and ‘tode’ are the typical jewellery on the hands of women in Maharashtra. Maharashtrians fond of pearls are vivid in their ‘chinchpet’ (choker), ‘tanmani’ (short necklace) and ‘nath’ (nose ring). The ‘bajuband’ (the amulet) is also a favourite. Earrings with flower-shaped are a popular as well.
Clockwise from top left: chinchpet, tanmani, nath, flower-shaped earrings
Common fashion In past days, generally people of wheat and cotton growing areas used to wear shoes, but were less common in the rice growing areas. Women go bare-footed, but sometimes have sandals in the past days. Boots and shoes in the European fashion are popular since British days in towns and cities, but their use is still confined to small number of rich persons, pleaders, young merchants etc. For the use of the common people, sandals and chappals of various patterns are the most common one in the state. Kolhapuri chappals, which are made in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra and its surrounding towns and villages, are famous worldwide.
Left: Modern boots; Right: Kolhapuri chappal
Language The most common language of Pune, spoken by majority of the population, is Marathi. Infact, Marathi is the official language of state of Maharashtra. Apart from Marathi, Hindi is also one of the languages used commonly in Pune and is used widely throughout the city. A large number of software companies as well as some of the best professional institutions of the country have opened up branches in Pune. This has resulted in a large influx of people from other parts of country as well as the world.
As the city is acquiring a cosmopolitan character, we find a few changes in its culture also. English is becoming a part of the languages commonly spoken in the Poona city of India. Apart from that, a number of other Indian languages are also spoken in the city. There is a significant minority of people from Gujarat and Parsis, who speak Gujarati.
Food - soups Since several generations have set the foothold of their craft in Pune, their dietary habits also reflect the typical cuisine of Maharashtrian region. Typically, in the Maharashtrian cuisine, soups are consumed along with the main course. Some popular soups, making use of indigenous Maharashtrian ingredients, are as follows: 1) Amti/Varan These are prepared using a form of Indian lentils called ‘dal’. Dal is a dried pulse which has been split.
Amti/ Varan soup
Clockwise from top left: toor dal, mung dal, beans, chickpea
The outer hull of the lentil is usually stripped off, though there are dishes prepared with the hull intact. They are described as ‘chilka’ dal, like chilka urad dal, mung dal chilka, etc. Dal is widely consumed in the Indian subcontinent; i.e., India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh; in the form of a stew. Dal is a rich source of proteins, providing alternatives to meat-based diet. The varan dish is made mainly from toor dal, or other split peas like mung, beans or chickpea.
Food - soups 2) Kadhi Another staple dish, this soup is made from a combination of buttermilk and chickpea flour. It is mainly served with khichdi, boiled rice, or as part of a Maharashtrian thali. 3) Solkadhi This dish is a specialty cuisine from the coastal Konkan region, but has been appropriated into the Maharashtrian culture as well, being geographic neighbours. It is usually consumed with rice, or sometimes drunk after the meals. It is made from coconut milk and ‘kokum’, a fruit indigenous to the Western Ghats region of India. 4) Tomato saar It is a spicy Maharashtrian soup prepared with tomato. Some ginger, garlic, and other spices are added to this preparation. 5) Kokam saar Kokam saar is a milder alternative to tomato saar. It is prepared from the dried fruit of kokam, mixed with ginger, garlic, and other spices.
Top to bottom: Kadhi, Solkadhi Bottom left: Tomato saar; Bottom right: Kokam saar
Food - appetizers 1) Chivda This dish consists of a variable mixture of of spicy dried ingredients, which may include fried lentils, peanuts, chickpea flour noodles, corn, vegetable oil, chickpeas, flaked rice, fried onion and curry leaves. This is all flavoured with salt and a blend of spicess that may include coriander and mustard seed. It is also known as ‘Bombay mix’ in foreign countries, especially in Great Britain. 2) Pohe This is one of the quintessential Maharashtrian dishes. A guest can usually expect to be served pohe with a cup of tea when in a Maharashtrian household. Pohe is made of processed flattened rice, roaasted with chillies, onion, mustard, cumin seeds and curry leaves, which are colloquially also called ‘kadhi-patte’. It is a high carbohydrate, low fat, quick meal that can be prepared in minutes. Some of its variations include ‘kanda pohe’ (prepared with onions, the most popular variant), ‘batata pohe’ (where diced potatoes are used instead of onion shreds, ‘dadpe pohe’ (a mixture of raw pohe with shredded fresh coconut, green chillies, ginger and lemon juice), and ‘kachhe pohe’ (raw pohe with minimal embellishments of oil, red chilli powder, salt and unsautéed onion shreds). It is often also served with an extremely spicy curry.
Chivda
Pohe
Food - appetizers 3) Upma Also known as ‘sanja’ or ‘upeeth’, upma is a common South Indian dish appropriated into common Maharashtrian cuisine. It is a thick porridge, cooked from dry roasted semolina or coarse rice flour. Various seasonings and vegetables are also sometimes added during the cooking, depending on individdual preferences. A huge number of variations are made with whole or refined ground wheat and rice of varied grain size, vermicelli, Durum wheat semolinaa or pearl sago. It can be garnishedn with a variety of raw or sprouted beans, cashews and peanuts. 4) Surali Wadi It is a Maharashtrian roll, made with chickpea flour and butter milk, garnished with coconut, coriander leaves and mustard. 5) Misal Pav This dish, originating from Kolhapur, has become a popular Maharashtrian dish. It consists of misal, a spicy curry usually made of sprouted moth beans, and pav, a type of Indian bread roll. The final dish is topped with potato-chiwda mix, ‘farsan’ or ‘sev’, onions, lemon and coriander. The pav is usually served after being toasted with butter, and the dish is sometimes accompanied by butter milk, curd and papad.
Top to bottom: Upma, Surali wadi, Misal Pav
Food - appetizers 6) Thalipeeth It is a type of savoury multi-grain pancake. It is a special Maharashtrian dish. The dough is prepared from a special flour made from ‘sabudana’ (roasted pearl tapioca), rajgira, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, wheat and rice. Onion, fresh coriander, and other vegetables and spices are added while kneading the dough. It is usually served with water buffalo milk butter, or thick ghee, called ‘toop’ in Marathi. It is also sometimes accompanied with thick curd. 7) Sabudana khichdi It is prepared from soaked sabudana. It is typically served in Western parts of India like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. It is a dish commonly eaten on days of religious fasting. 8) Khichdi It is prepared from rice and dal. Vegetables such as cauliflower, potato, and green peas are commonly added. A popular variant in coastal Maharashtra is made by adding prawns.Khichdi is a popular campfire food, owing to the convenience of being able to cook the dish in a single simmering pot. In Indian culture, khichdi is considered one of the first solid foods that babies eat. 9) Chana daliche deerdhe It is a popular Maharashtrian snack, consisting of chana and dal fried in chickpea flour.
Top to bottom: Thalipeeth, Sabudana khichdi, Khichdi
Food - condiments Some common pickles or condiments which accompany a Maharashtrian dish are: 1) Thecha It is a spicy condiment prepared majorly across the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and many parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It has many variants, but the primary ingredients are chillies, both green and red, and garlic, often tempered in oil and a multitude of spices such as cumin, sesame seeds, hing, clove, and grated coconut seasoning. 2) Chutney Chutney is the one of the most common side dishes in Indian cuisine. It can vary from a tomato relish to a ground peanut garnish or yoghurt, cucumber and mint dip. Indian chutneys use vinegar oil as a pickling agent, which increases its shelf life. 3) Achaar South Asian pickles, known as ‘achaar’, are made from certain varieties of vegetables and fruits that are finely chopped and marinated in brine or edible oils, along with various Indian spices. The most common Indian achaars are made from mango and lime. Other varieties include cauliflower, carrot, radish, tomato, onion, pumpkin, palm heart, lotus stem, rose petals, ginger, amla, garlic, green or red chilli peppers, kohlrabi, cordia, kerda, purple yam, karonda, bitter gourd, jackfruit, mushroom, eggplant, cucumber, turnip and lapsi.
Top to bottom: Thecha, Chutney, Achaar
Food - sweet dishes Traditionally, a full Maharashtrian meal is never finished without sweets and desserts. Even here, there is a wide variety of Maharashtrian desserts available: 1) Puran poli It is one of the most popular sweet items in the Maharashtrian cuisine. It is made from molasses or jaggery, colloquially called ‘gur’, yellow gram (‘chana’), dal, plain flour, cardamom powder and ghee. It resembles a typical stuffed roti (a South Asian flat bread made of stone-grained wholemeat flour). Puran poli is a festive food prepared mainly during Diwali, Dusshera, Guddi Padva and many more. A meal which is concluded with puran poli is considered by Maharashtrians to be a heavy meal. 2) Modak Modak is ubiquitously associated with Ganesha Chaturthi. It is a Maharashtrian dish that is typically steamed (‘ukdiche modak’), and resembles momos. It is prepared on the Ganesha festival, typically in August, and is often given as an offering to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, as according to mythology it is his favourite sweet.
Top to bottom: Puran Poli, Modak
Food - sweet dishes 3) Gulab jamun Gulab jamun is a milk solids-based dessert, popular in countries of South Asia such as India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is also common in Mauritius and the Caribbean countries of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname and Jamaica. It is made using ‘khoya’, which is made of either dried whole milk or milk thickened by heating in an open iron pan. The khoya is kneaded into a dough, sometimes with a pinch of flour, and then shaped into small balls and deep-fried at a low temperature of about 148 °C. The balls are then soaked in a light sugary syrup flavored with green cardamom and rose water, kewra or saffron. It is commonly served in festivals and birthday parties. 4) Anarsa Anarsa is a popular dish in Maharashtra, made and consumed on the festival of Diwali. It is made from soaked powdered rice, jaggery or sugar. The rice is soaked in water for 3 days, with the water changed daily to mitigate fermentation. The rice is then dried, retaining a minimal amount of moisture, and ground into a fine powder. This is known as the pithi, and is mixed with an equal amount of sugar. The traditional process for creating the Anarsa batter could be tedious to modern-day homemakers since it takes three days.
Top to bottom: Gulab Jamun, Anarsa
Food - sweet dishes 5) Chirote Chirote is a popular Maharashtrian sweet dish prepared using ‘rawa’ (semolina) and ‘maida’ (plain flour). Chiroti is a fried flaky pastry with concentric circles of delicate layers that is either sprinked with a generous amount of cardamom flavored powdered sugar or dipped in cardamom flavored sugar syrup. 6) Jalebi Jalebi is a popular sweet in the Indian subcontinent, as well as in the Middle East, North Africa (except Morocco) and East Africa. It is made by deep-frying a wheat flour (maida flour) batter in pretzel or circular shapes, which are then soaked in sugar syrup. They are particularly popular in South Asia during Ramadan and Diwali. 7) Basundi It is a sweetened dense milk made by boiling milk on low heat until the milk is reduced by half. It is common in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, and is similar to the North Indian dish known as rabri. Heavy cream may be added during the boiling process to hasten the thickening process. Once reduced, a little sugar, cardamom, charoli and/or saffron are added. Basundi is preserved well after sugar is added. It is often made on Hindu festivals such as Kali Chaudas and Bhaubeej (Bhai Dooj).
Top to bottom: Chirote, Jalebi, Basundi
Food - sweet dishes 9) Shrikhand Shrikhand is an Indian sweet dish made of strained yogurt. It is one of the main desserts in Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisine. Preparation of this dish is very simple but it takes some time to process yogurt properly. To prepare shrikhand, yogurt is tied in a cotton cloth and left under pressure to drain. The strained yogurt, referred to as “Chakka”, and sugar are mixed thoroughly in a deep bowl. Cardamom, saffron, and any other flavors are then added and mixed. It is then left in the refrigerator for the sugar to dissolve. The dish is served chilled. 10) Amrakhand Similar to shrikhand, amrakhand includes the addition of mango to the same recipe. 11) Laddu Laddu are ball-shaped sweets popular in India. They are often served at festive or religious occasions. Laddus are made of flour, minced dough and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe. Diwali. There are a number of different laddus based on semolina, gram flour or bundi. 12) Pedha Pedha is a sweet usually prepared in thick, semi-soft pieces. The main ingredients are khoya, sugar and traditional flavorings, including cardamom seeds, pistachio nuts and saffron. The colour varies from a creamy white to a caramel colour.
Clockwise from top left: Shrikhand, Amarkhand, Laddu, Pedha
Means of transport One of the predominant means of transport spotted in Pune is a humble two-wheeler scooter. No lane, no gully is every complete without a line of scooters parked, leaning against a wall. According to DPR of Baner Subway under JNNURM, out of the total registered vehicles in Pune, the following means of transport are found in the given percentages: Two-wheelers (75.3%) Three-wheelers (5.7%) Cars (13.1%) Buses (0.8%) Trucks (4.8%) Other (0.1%) The Pune Metro rail project has been proposed to decongest Pune and the surrounding metropolitan areas. But as of now, the plan is still in the developmental phases. The only public means of transport are the PMPML buses, and they are also criticized for their poor services. So, another means of transport for those who do not own their own vehicles are the auto-rickshaws. The greater percentage of private vehicles as compared to the public ones results in frequent traffic jams, which becomes a hindrance to the populace whose daily routine includes frequent commute.
Left: Scooter; Right: Motorbike
Left: Auto-rickshaw; Right: Cars
Left: Buses; Right: Cycle
Festivals India, with its deep cultural roots, has a wide variety of festivals all throughout the year. These festival are even more varied in different regions of the country, which have celebrations linked to their culture, geology, and mythology. Some of the quintessential Maharashtrian festivals are as follows:
The 10-day festival culminates in a carnival-like procession along the busy thoroughfares of the city, with every pandal leading the idol on a float to finally immerse (‘visarjan’) it in the local rivers. This is one of the most important yearly events in the city. There are many pandals set up in important places of the city. The city has the five Maanache Ganapati, the respected Ganapati, at different places. They are:
1) Ganapati festival It was in Pune in 1894 that Lokmanya Tilak initiated the concept of the “Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav” — the collective communal celebration of the festival of Lord Ganesha. During the month of August or September each year, the city celebrates the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Almost every neighborhood puts up a pandal with an idol of Lord Ganesha, often amidst a mythological setting, complete with decorative lights and festive music. Every year, the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati trust creates a pandal which is a replica of famous monuments and temples in India. In 2014, it was the replica of the Kailash Temple at Ellora. During this time, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation organises the month-long Pune Festival which hosts classical dance and music recitals, a film and drama festival, automobile rallies and some traditional sports. Clockwise from top left: Kasba Ganapati at Kasba Peth, Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganapati at Appa Balwant Chowk, Guruji Talim at Laxmi Road, Tulshibagh Ganapati at Tulshibagh, Kesariwada Ganapati at Kesariwada, the ancestral home of the Tilaks.
Festivals 2) Pune Festival Pune festival is held between August and September during Ganesh Mahotsav. It is the biggest festival of Pune. The festival goes for ten days. It starts with the installation of idols of Lord Ganesha on the first day to immersion of the Lord’s idols on the tenth day.
Pune festival mainly emphasises on the celebration of art and culture, song and dance, custom and tradition. It started as a local event but now has succeeded to attract visitors from across India and abroad. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation joining hand with the Union government actively promotes the festival abroad as a major tourist attraction. Classical dance, music recitals, film, drama festival, automobile rallies and traditional sports are held as a part of the festival.
Maestros and stalwarts from all over India are invited to perform during the festival. The denizens of Pune and also the visitors from outside enjoy the event with fullest during the celebrations. One of the major events in the Pune festival is the Shaniwarwada dance festival. In the bracing winter air, Pune has had the privilege of seeing some of the best exponents of dance. World-renowned classical dancers like, Pt. Birju Maharajji, the doyen of the kathak, the legendary maestro Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, along with his son Ratikant and daughter in law Sujata Mohanty presented the graceful lyrical dance style from the eastern shores of our country. The beautifully illuminated Shaniwarwada is an ideal backdrop which when combined the melodious sound of ghungroos creates a magical aura under the twinkling stars. The rich cultural heritage of Pune is brought to life with a perfect blend of history, music and dance. Another major festival is the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, which is an annual Indian Classical music festival held in Pune since 1953. Arguably the largest, most popular, and sought-after Indian Classical music festival in the world, the festival is hosted by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal (ASPM) and initiated by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi as a memorial music conference commemorating the life and work of Pt. Joshi’s guru, Pt. Sawai Gandharva alias Rambhau Kundgolkar, the festival’s namesake.
Festivals 3) Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
Celebrated as the birthday of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra on 19th February, Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti happens to be a festival that is rejoiced with magnificence. Shivaji was born to Jijabai and Shahaji Bhonsle, on 19th February, 1627. He was named Shivaji after local Goddess Shivai. Being the creator of Marathas, he was influential in bringing together various Maratha chiefs of Mayal, Konkan and Desh regions. This hero was not only successful in bringing the people of Pune city together but united India as a nation too. Therefore, Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated on a royal note in Pune with several processions being taken out where people dress themselves up as Shivaji and his associates, various colourful events are organised to remember the achievements of this great Maratha ruler.
4) Bhaubeej Bhaubeej is also known as Bhai Dooj in other parts of India. This festival in Pune and all over Maharashtra is celebrated, beginning with sisters drawing special square shape on the floor and making the brother sit inside it. He is then made to consume a bitter fruit called ‘karith’. This custom comes from a mythological tale that Lord Krishna tasted this fruit before he went on for his mission to slay the demon Narakasura. On Bhaubeej, sisters pray for their brother’s long and prosperous life while performing teeka ceremony. Brothers also bless their sisters and present them with Bhaubeej gifts. And after the rituals are completed, everyone gorges upon delicious basundi puri or shrikhand puri.
Other festivals celebrated in Pune include Diwali, Eid, Gokul Ashtami, Banganga Festival, The Elephanta Festival, Ellora Festival, Dussehra, and Gudi Padwa. These festivals beautifully represent the culture and traditions followed by the diverse city of Pune as well as the whole of Maharashtra.
Link with other industries Religion A copper vessel, called ‘kalash’, is not only a container, but also a significant symbol of Hinduism. In all Hindu festivities related to marriage and childbirth, it is considered auspicious to keep a kalash with a coconut placed on top of it. This arrangement is called purna-kalash. The vessel itself is sometimes draped with a red cloth, while the coconut is left exposed. The purna-kalash is also worshipped at Hindu ceremonies like Griha Pravesha (house warming), child naming, havan (fire-sacrifice), Vaastu dosha rectification, and daily worship.
The kalash is also an auspicious icon in Jainism. It is used for religious and social ceremonies. It is used in temples when certain images are being worshipped. When one enters a new home it is customary to carry the kalash on the head reciting mantras. This ceremony is performed to welcome grace and happiness into the new home.
Hotel industry An ornamental ghangal is a popular item among hotel receptions. Made of copper or brass, ghangal is a large-sized vessel, having handles on two opposite sides, and rests on a downward projected foot. It is filled with water, and topped with lilies and lotus pads to add to the ornamentation.
Transportation The Jain community has established a market in Pune, responsible for the transportation of the copper and brass sheets to the Tambats from the source.
Materials and Tools The materials used are copper sheets and brass sheets. In the traditional days of the craft, Tambats used to have sixteen main tools and appliances: an airan (anvil), four kharuais (bar anvils), four hatodas (hammers), a sandsi (a pair of tongs), two pairs of scissors together, five yearly renewed kansis (files), a shagda (vice), bhatas (a pair of bellows), a karuol (saw), a sandhan (an iron bar) with one end smoothed to serve or an anvil, a randha (flat iron rasper), 15 cm x 1.2 cm with one end bent and sharpened used for scraping and polishing pots. However, the modern coppersmiths use refined machinery to have a better control over the quality of the finished product. Some of the essential tools are as follows: 1) Hydraulic press 2) Spinning beading machine 3) Dye 4) Hammers
Pricing The following are the considerations taken into account while deciding the price of a metal vessel: 1) Price of material used The two primary metals used to make these vessels are copper and brass. Copper (99% purity): while the market prices keep varying according to the economy rate, the current price in 2015 is reported to be Rs. 565 per kg. Brass (alloy of 60% copper, 40% zinc): same as above, while market prices flucuate, the current recorded rate in 2015 is Rs. 470 per kg. 2) Price of energy consumed to manufacture Except manual labour, the primary energy consumed in metal vessel manufacturing is electricity. Its cost is Rs. 5000 per month. 3) Price of equipments The equipments are available at a range of Rs. 1 lakh - Rs. 2 lakh. 4) Property The workshops are owned by the craftsmen themselves, not rented. So the only expenditure goes in the property tax.
5) Government subsidies As of 2015, no subsidies are available to these craftsmen. All expenditure comes from their own pocket. 6) Transportation cost The transportation of raw material from its source to the workshops is taken care of by Jain traders. For every 100 kg of metal sheets transported, the transportation cost is estimated to be an additional Rs. 600. Basic price of product Rs. 120 Market price of product Rs. 230-250
Process