A tourist can buy beautiful stone ../photos of his choice in route to Bodhgaya (either from Patna or Rajgir and vice-versa). The main center of stone-carving is Pattharkatti , under the Atri police-station area in the Gaya Sadar subdivision where many families of stone-carvers are engaged in this hundreds years old traditional profession of stone-carving. A few families in the Gaya town also do this business. This art-work is available at leading souvenir shops and handicraft emporia .
Madhubani Painting
Traditionally, such paintings were depicted on home-walls of people of Madhubani (a district in North Bihar, which is the repository of a rich culture of design and craft). Now these paintings are produced on ordinary/silk-cloth and, even on papers. These paintings can be purchased at affordable prices varying from Rupees 10 to Thousands depending upon their sizes, workmanship and other factors.
Ranti and Jitwarpur villages of Madhubani earn a great name and fame as it has produced many a great artists of this art form. Mrs. Maha Sundari Devi, Abha Das, Vibha Das, Runa Das, Kapoori Devi and Dulari Devi are a few names whose works have acclaimed great admiration worldwide.
These paintings are available either on cloth or paper pieces .It can be had from leading souvenir stalls, handicraft emporia and some khadi shops.
Lac Works
Muzaffarpur, Laheriasarai (Darbhanga) and Lakhisarai are famous for the lac-work, especially for production of lack-bangles (a women's ornament) called ' Lahathi'. The craftsmen have raised this art to a high degree of perfection with attractive designs and motives of oriental origin. These attractive lac-bangles or Lahathi can be had from any bangle-seller ,whether in Bihar or somewhere else. This art-work can also be had from leading souvenir sellers and handicraft emporia.
Sikki Works
Sikki is available in abundance in the diara areas of the Ganges and also in the beds of other rivers. Women manufacture artistic toys and wares out of it. Madhubani and Vaishali in Bihar are known for these items. This art-work can be had from leading souvenir sellers, handicraft emporia and some khadi shops.
Sujani Works
Sujani making is a traditionally very old handicraft-form which gives a new life and look to old and discarded domestic cloths- e.g. old sarees and bed sheets etc. It has been in practice almost in every house in Bihar for hundreds of years.
With the change of time and taste, the Sujani making has also been given a new look and identity with application of innovative ideas into it. Now, one can feel proud for buying decorative pieces of sujani-work in different styles, made with new clothes, from leading handicraft emporia and stalls for their home decor.
Bamboo Work
Many members of a particular community live on bamboo bars. They manufacture baskets and other household wares. Basket making is carried on in many villages of Bihar as bamboos are generally available everywhere. Bamboo furniture pieces are also manufactured. Morhas (a round shaped stool) is a common sight even in humble homes. Novel designs are constantly being evolved at the Upendra Maharathi Institute of Handicrafts, Patna where craftsmen keep themselves in touch with the change of tastes of customers. This art-work can be had from leading souvenir sellers, handicraft emporia and some khadi shops.
Wooden Work
Patna is a traditional seat for manufacture of wooden furniture and toys. Many of the carpenters specialize in toy making and they manufacture attractive wooden toys.Due to comparatively low prices, these wooden furniture and toys form an important item in the Somvari Mela (Shravani Fair) and Sonepur Mela held every year in the months of Shravan ( July-August) at Patna and Kartik (Novermber-December) at Sonepur respectively.
Pottery
Clay pottery has been recognized since ancient times as a medium of expression of crafts. The excavations of Kumhrar, Nalanda and Rajgir confirm this. The art of pottery was highly developed during the Mauryan and Gupta periods. The 'Laughing Doll' of terracotta, kept in the Patna Museum is an excellent example of this. The works of these master craftsmen are part of Bihar's rich heritage and have inspired the modern potters to improve their artistic pattern. Potters all over the the state manufacture earthen utensils and tiles. Some of them are capable of doing artistic painting on jugs. Potters of Patna are traditional artists for making statues of goddess Durga and Sarswati and other deities to meet the local demands on the occasions of Durga Puja , Basant Panchami and other occasions.
Brass and Bell-Metal
This is one of the most ancient crafts of Patna. The ../photos of goddesses, utensils, iron pitchers and other utility articles were found in course of excavations at Nalanda and Rajgir. This craft flourished in Patna even from before the Mauryan era and continued till Gupta and Pal periods. During the Gupta period, there were two artisans of crafts and metal works at Kumhrar who used to advise on the painting of bell-metal molding and casting even in Japan, Korea, Tibet, Indonesia, Ceylon, Indo-china, Burma, etc. The Upendra Maharathi Institute of Handicrafts, Patna is making experiments on different kinds of artistic and utility wares.
Tikuli Works
This has been a very popular craft of Patna ( city) and Harihans ( Saran ).Tikuli is manufactured from the broken glass which is either purchased or collected. The broken glass is melted in an oven called 'bhattha'. In this industry both males and females have equal share. The manual work in melting the glass is done by the male members of the family but it is the women who give the final finish and design. The chief markets of Tikuli are Banaras, Patna and Calcutta. The finished product, Tikuli, is used by the ladies on the forehead as an ornament.
Kasida
Patna City used to be a very important center for production of artistic embroidery and works in Zari. Even now some homes earn their living through this art. Ladies in many houses do kasida as a hobby. The outstanding examples of kasida works are found in shamiyanas, kanaths, chandwas, pillow-covers, batwas, covers for musical instruments, table-cloth, window curtains, blouse pieces, sari, borders, etc. This art-work can be had from leading handicraft emporia .
Zari Works
Patna City has been the home of this work since olden times. Even now this tradition continues though in a very diminished form. It is a type of embroidery with gold and silver threads, beads, silk, sequins on satin or velvet. Each zari work is a piece of fine workmanship. This art-work can be had from leading handicraft emporia .
Jewellery
Fine works of jewelry in silver has been a specialty of the State. Goldsmiths all over the state manufacture fine ornaments. Patna continues the tradition of making traditional ornaments which are found in many of the old sculptures and antiquities, though the artists are never slow to adapt themselves to modern tastes.
Silk Yarn and Cloth
Bhagalpur is famous for producing fine silk yarn and Tusser (a variety of silk) cloth. Silk produced at Bhagalpur is popularly known as ' Bhagalpuri Silk' and can be had from any leading cloth-shop anywhere in Bihar and elsewhere.
Handloom
Madhubani, Chhpra, Siwan and Gopalganj areas of North Bihar are famous for producing special type of Handloom and Khadi cloths and garments. The clothes , produced here can be bought anywhere in Bihar and elsewhere from khadi and handloom shops.
Important Shopping Centers
Maurya Lok,Patna / Hathwa Market Patna / Patna Market,Patna
Swarajya Puri, Gaya / Motijheel Market, Muzaffarpur / etc.
