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Photo Documentation: Patharkatti, Village of Stone Carvers, Gaya, Bihar

Unfinished images of Shiva-linga, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar. Photo credit: Tanay Pathak
Unfinished images of Shiva-linga, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar. Photo credit: Tanay Pathak

Patharkatti in Gaya district of Bihar, is known as Village of Stone Carvers. It has rich legacy of stone craft and has been the traditional stoneware centre in Bihar. It is also famous for its blue-black pot stone from which artisans craft Buddhist icons, images and household articles like the pestle, the mortar kharal (medicine grinder).

Traditionally the work was limited to the Gaud Brahmins who migrated from Rajasthan on invitation of Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. This craft was limited to the Gaud Brahmins till recently when in 1950-60’s Upendar Maharathi started a training centre to involve people from other communities.

Since its inception many local people have taken training from Ravindera Nath Gaud and the craft at its peak was spread in as many 10 villages. Presently the craft is limited to four villages and the biggest clusters are at khukari, Patharkatti and Tenbigha.

Here are some photographs of Patharkatti photo documentation project by Folkartopedia in December, 2018;

Photo Archives

Patharkatti, Village of Stone Carvers of Bihar

Village of Gaur Brahmins and one of the stone carvers practicing the craft on the dirt track of the village.
Village of Gaur Brahmins stone carvers in Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
Panel of Dashavatara (Lord Vishnu)
Image of Shiva-Parvati in Patharkatti village, Gaya, Bihar.
Image of Goddess Laxmi (unfinished) in black stone, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar
Idol of 'Shesh Naag' established on the entrance of Gaur Brahmins stone carvers village.
Composition of Panch-Devta sculptures in Patharkatti village, Gaya, Bihar
Image of Goddess Laxmi or Parvati, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
Images of Krishna and Radha (white marble) in a workshop, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
Small images of Goddess Durga (white marble) in a workshop, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
Common storage facility used as a craft shop in Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
Common storage facility used as a craft shop in Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
A small workshop of stone carver in the village, lack of space and proper storage.
A workshop in Patharkatti village, Gaya, Bihar
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
Ramashish Yadav, Stone carver from Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
A bust in white marble
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
Unpolished Shiva-linga made of white marble.
Local carver sculpting a bust without any protection equipment. The Stone dust affects carvers and their family members.
Unused block of carved stone for Vishnupad temple (as the local artisans says).
Unused block of carved stone for Vishnupad temple (as the local artisans says).
Dashavataar and other images incorporated in a wall.
Shiva-linga in a village temple, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.
Manohar Lal Gaur, Senior Stone Carver, No more active in stone carving.
Ravindra Nath Gaur, Master Stone Carver and owner of Sangeeta Murti Kala.
Suresh lal Gaur: Owner of Sandeep Murti Kala Kendra, a unit specializes in painted murti / god idol making craft in marble and granite stone only.
Sudama Sharma, Stone carver of Patharkatti and owner of a local stone craft shop.
L-R: Sunil Kumar, Folkartopedia with Senior artist Ravindranath Gaur, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar
L-R; Ravindra Nath Gaur, Suresh Lal Gaur and Vipin Kumar (senior artist, Delhi) in front of Sangeeta Murti Kala Kendra, Patharkatti, Gaya, Bihar.

Patharkatti, Village of Stone Carvers of Bihar
Photo documentation: Tanay Pathak
December 25, 2018
Gallery images: 34 
© folkartopedia

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Other links:

पत्थरकट्टी,1940–1970: परंपरा और परिस्थितियों के बीच फंसा पाषाण शिल्प
पत्थरकट्टी: पाषाण शिल्प, परंपरागत डिजाइन और कच्चा माल के स्रोत
पाषाण शिल्पियों का विशिष्ट गांव, पत्थरकट्टी: संक्षिप्त इतिहास और सामाजिक तानाबाना

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