SSC
Chikankari is one of the important crafts of which state?
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Answer: Option A — Uttar Pradesh
Detailed Solution
Chikankari (chikan embroidery) is a famous traditional embroidery of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. It is a delicate white-on-white embroidery traditionally done with white cotton thread on fine white muslin (malmal) cloth, though today it is also done on other fabrics and colours such as cotton, georgette, chiffon and silk.
History:
- The word "chikan" is believed to come from the Persian word "chikin" or "chakin", meaning a kind of embroidery or drapery.
- According to popular tradition, it was introduced or popularised by Nur Jahan, the wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, in the 17th century.
- It flourished in Lucknow under the patronage of the Nawabs of Awadh in the 18th-19th centuries.
Features of chikankari:
It has about 32-36 different stitches. Some well-known ones include "tepchi" (running stitch), "bakhiya" (shadow work, the most common), "phanda", "murri" (French knots), "jali" (net work) and "keel kangan".
The designs are mostly inspired by Mughal art: flowers, creepers, leaves, and paisley shapes.
The process involves several steps: cutting, block printing the design with washable ink, embroidery, washing and finishing.
Most of the embroidery work is done by women working at home in Lucknow and nearby villages. Lucknow chikankari received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008.
Other famous crafts of Uttar Pradesh include Banarasi silk sarees and brocades (Varanasi), zardozi (gold thread embroidery), carpets of Bhadohi, brassware of Moradabad, and glass work of Firozabad.
Why not the other options?
- ✗West Bengal is known for Kantha embroidery.
- ✗Gujarat is known for Kutch embroidery and Patola weaving.
- ✗Punjab is known for Phulkari embroidery.
Quick tip
Remember: Chikankari = Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), white thread on muslin, linked to Nur Jahan, GI 2008; Kantha = Bengal; Phulkari = Punjab.
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Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's traditional painting styles (such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond and Tanjore), handicrafts and textiles, traditional dresses, and the major tribes of each state and their customs. It also includes Geographical Indication (GI) tags given to crafts and products. Questions usually ask which state a painting or craft belongs to, which tribe lives in a region, or what a traditional dress is called. Warli belongs to Maharashtra, Madhubani to Bihar, Pattachitra to Odisha and West Bengal, and Gond art to Madhya Pradesh. Grouping tribes by state, and noting the largest tribe of key states (such as the Bhils and the Santhals), helps with elimination. Practise the paintings, crafts and tribes questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.