Asian Journal of Home Science (June to November, 2009) Vol. 4 No.
1 : 197-200
A Case Study :
Indian craft - sanji (Art of paper cutting)
NEHA SINGH AND MUGDHA RISHI
Accepted : March, 2009
A part from being a cornerstone of our
culture and heritage, crafts
represent a major economic activity in
They later broadened to include a number
of Mughal motifs -jali patterns and animals
and flowers.
terms of people employed and the value A basic meaning that captures the
of goods produced. Crafts are as old as essence of various practices is ‘sajavat’
human history. Nearly every craft now which means decoration. Other meanings
practiced can be traced back many linked with ‘Sanjhi’ is ‘sanjha’ which means
hundreds or even thousands of years. evening and ‘sancha’ which means mould.
Originally fulfilling utilitarian purposes,
they are now a means of producing Legends of ‘SANJHI’ craft:
objects of intrinsic aesthetic appeal. The legends related to the ‘Sanjhi’
Crafts, awareness of crafts and craft craft are of two forms:
appreciation has definitely grown – Folk tradition
tremendously and there has been a great – Temple tradition.
spurt in craft growth and development.
Along the river Jamuna in North Folk tradition:
India are two, virtually contiguous, Underpinning the tradition is a legend
towns—Mathura and Vrindavan—which that states ‘Sanjhi’ practices involve
are important centers of Hindu creation and decoration of designs on the
See end of the article for
authors’ affiliations pilgrimage. The region around and walls using stones, mirrors, colored stones
containing these two towns, known on a cow dung base. These non-temple
Correspondence to: traditionally as Vraja or Vrajbhoomi, is ‘sanjhis’ are made by the unmarried girls
NEHA SINGH the legendary place of the god Krishna. who offer prayer to the goddess ‘Sanjhi’
National Institute of for ‘a husband and many children’. The
Fashion Technology, NEW Full paper: motifs of this ‘Sanjhi’ comprises of very
DELHI, INDIA “Thy life so short, the craft so long intricate flowers, creepers, and various
to learn...” images of ‘Sanjhi and sanjha’. This prayer
‘Sanjhi paper cutting’ is an ancient also involves offering of food and lighting
craft of paper stenciling, found in of lamps by the unmarried girls seeking
Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh the wish.
of India. These stencils were used to Goddess ‘Sanjhi’ is believed to be the
make rangoli patterns on walls and floors, mind-born daughter of ‘Brahma – the
known as ‘Sanjhi’. This craft is always creator’, who was granted three wishes
linked to ‘vrajbhoomi’ because its subject which included commitment to a one
matters have traditionally been the husband, many child and the third one was
stories and motifs of the ‘Krishna Radha that who so ever worshipped her would
legend’. It is an art form that is in very have their wishes fulfilled.
much of the spirit of Mathura and
Vrindavan. Walking along the streets of Temple tradition:
Key words : Mathura and Vrindavan one can easily In the temple tradition, ‘Sanjhi’ is
recognize the motifs and designs that created every evening during the ‘Pitra
appear in the traditional Sanjhi paper Paksha’ or the dark fortnight of waning
cutting, whether it is the peacock or the moon in the month of ‘Ashwin’, in
cows, the monkey or the kadamba tree September or October. During ‘Pitra
or the river flowing past the temple. Paksha’, the ancestors are remembered
•HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY •
198 NEHA SINGH AND MUGDHA RISHI
and worshipped. This temple tradition is rare and is only paper stencils, though seems to be simple but it involves
practiced in some of the temples in Vrindavan. The a lot of precision and practice. First the drawing of the
‘Sanjhi’ is made by the temple priests and local artisan on design is made on the paper. If more than one copy is
a raised earthen platform, known as ‘vedi’. This is created required the papers are pinned together on all sides. After
by the mixture of mud and cow dung. this, a parallel line, about 3/16 of an inch away from the
Motifs used in this temple tradition are generally the first line is drawn. Then the small bridges are made on
different patterns of flowers and leaves placed very the parallel lines. These bridges are the areas of the uncut
beautifully in a ‘rangoli’. After the creation of these floral stencil left between the cutout design areas. In addition
motifs, the central part of the ‘rangoli’ is created. The to creating details and style, bridges are what hold a stencil
central design usually represents a ‘Lila’ of Krishna. The together in one piece. As one gets more proficient, it is
theme depicted in the centre is the main focus of ‘Sanjhi’ easy to decide which area needs a wider or a narrower
in this temple tradition. All these intricate motifs are bridge. Increase in the number of bridges increases the
created using a series of ‘Sanjhi’ stencils. Each of these intricacy of the design.
‘sanjhis’ are created just for a single day. After the‘sanjhi’ It is the cutting process which requires an enormous
is worshipped, it is effaced to make a new ‘Sanjhi’ for amount of practice, concentration and patience. The only
the following day of the ‘Pitra Paksha’. tool used in this craft is a pair of scissors, which is very
fine with long arms for easy manipulation. During the
Tools and techniques: cutting process, the paper is rotated around the scissors
The technique involved in the creation of the ‘Sanjhi’ for a précised and fine cutting. The numbers of paper cut
Fig. 1 : Krishna legends
stencils that are used for any design depend on the
intricacy of the pattern, number of elements in the design
and the number of colors to be used.
Motifs:
The art of ‘Sanjhi’ is a celebration of the legends of
lord Krishna. The subject matter has always been the
stories and motifs of Krishna legends (Fig. 1). The motifs
and designs that appear in the traditional Sanjhi paper
cutting are the scenes of Vrindavan (Fig. 2) which
includes peacock, the cows, the monkey, and the kadamba
tree, the river flowing past the temple. Imageries and
themes like Krishna rasa (Fig. 3), Nand Gopal stealing
butter (Fig. 4) are also cut intricately. The very intricate
Fig. 2 : Vrindavan ‘Sanjhi’ have many creepers and flowers running along
[Asian. J. Home Sci., June to Nov., 2009 Vol. 4 (1)] •HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY •
INDIAN CRAFT - SANJI (ART OF PAPER CUTTING) 199
Fig. 3 : Krishna Rasa
Krishna Rasa
Fig. 6 :
feet by 12 feet and the Sanjhi can be octagonal, square,
rectangular, or circular. Traditionally the sides have
detailed borders with flowers and creepers, while the
theme to be depicted is at the centre and is the main
focus of the Sanjhi.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, there has been a decline
Fig. 4 : Nand Gopal
in the number of artisans practicing ‘Sanjhi paper cutting’.
The reason of this decline is the low demand for their
the borders. The motifs and the themes also include the work in its traditional form. Traditional patronage was
images of the deity Sanjhi and Sanjha. drying up and even the popularity of ‘Sanjhi’ as the
They later broadened to include a number of Mughal domestic hobby had started languishing.
motifs like jali patterns and animals and flowers.
Glossary :
Size and shape: – ‘vrajbhoomi’- Birth place of lord Krishna
The size of the Sanjhi depends on the occasion, the – kadamba tree- Kadamba tree, botanical name
traditions of the temple where the Sanjhi is to be laid, and Anthocephalus cadamba and Nauclea cadamba of the
the theme to be characterized. The maximum size is 8 Rubiaceae family, is common in Indian subcontinent
[Asian. J. Home Sci., June to Nov., 2009 Vol. 4 (1)] •HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY •
200 NEHA SINGH AND MUGDHA RISHI
– Brahma- creator of earth according to Indian Ashwin according to Hindu calendar.
Hindu mythology
– ‘Pitra Paksha’- This is a 16 day period when most Authors’ affiliations:
Hindu remember their ancestors, and feed Brahman in MUGDHA RISI, National Institute of Fashion
their memory. In Indian Lunar month there are 14 regular Technology, NEW DELHI, INDIA
days (Tithi), one New Moon day and one Full Moon day,
so there are 16 days.
- ‘Ashwin’ - September or October month called **********
******
[Asian. J. Home Sci., June to Nov., 2009 Vol. 4 (1)] •HIND INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY •
