Ever since its inception, Maruti Suzuki has been the favourite among the Indian crowd. This is one car maker that develops India-specific cars; cars that are made in India, made for India, keeping in mind India’s unique terrain and temperatures. Interestingly, the out of every two cars that roll out in India, one wears the Maruti Suzuki badge. Unfortunately, the new emission norms that kicked in pushed out India’s iconic Maruti 800 out of 13 cities. Times are changing and some cars have to leave, but Maruti will remain as India’s most popular car maker. In this article let’s have a look at the auto maker’s cars in the country.

First the 800 which actually put India on wheels; the Government of India and Suzuki Motors, Japan joined hands and assembled the car with imported parts. With time, the car gained popularity and production became localised. A true value-for-money car, the M800 has undergone many changes to meet the changing needs of the Indian.

Coming to the A-Star, it is the first global car hailing from the hatchback segment to be produced exclusively in India. This car, strapped with the new KB Series engine complies with all the emission norms. It comes with the Penta Drive, 5 world class features. The car gives an excellent mileage even on the rough Indian roads.

Next the Maruti Alto, which is India’s highest selling model. Of late, the Alto underwent a few cosmetic changes. The interiors were enhanced and the Maruti car received a new athletic grille and wider bumper which was very much needed to attract the young India even more than earlier.

The Eeco is an MPV that offers advanced riding comfort, stability and handling. In spite of such roominess and advanced features, the Eeco comes into the Indian market with a very humble price that seems affordable to most. This is one of the Maruti cars in India that can accommodate even fat Indian families with ease.

A wonderful blend of style and urban character comes alive in the Maruti Estilo. The stiffened suspensions system is also just perfect for cornering on the rather pathetic roads in India. There’s no doubt that the Zen Estilo is a smart, elegant and contemporary car.

The Grand Vitara is grand; comes loaded with power and style to attract both young and old Indians. The 2.4-litre VVT petrol engine in this Maruti car expels 163 bhp. With plenty of safety features, one can be assured of a safe ride even on the roller coaster like roads in India.

The Gypsy is another Maruti car in India that is tough enough with an equally potent engine that’s ready to take on any Indian territory without compromising on performance. The 1.3-litre MPFI petrol engine stirs up 80 bhp.

Maruti also has other splendid offerings for the Indian car buyer like the muscular WagonR, the truly Indian Omni, the sophisticated Ritz, the perfect mid-size sedan SX4, the graceful and stylish Swift and the enhanced Swift DZire.

1. Lighting can make or break a room. Investing in lower-wattage bulbs can change the look of a room from restful to romantic.

2. Check out remnant tables at your local fabric stores. Remnants are perfect for recovering pillows, banding drapes and other sewing projects around the house. They are usually 1/3 of the price and look just as good.
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3. Don’t forget about greenery. Having plants in any room makes you feel more alive. Simple green foliage often lasts longer than flowers, and the overall design of a single leaf can make more of a striking effect. Try a single palm leaf or a slender flax in a giant vase. It has simple yet modern appeal. In your kitchen, add a small herb garden to your windowsill to add life to the room. Plus, they taste great!

4. Focus on your floors. Just like walls, floors need your attention, too. If you are able to completely change the surface, consider resanding or staining wood floors, or replacing old linoleum or carpet with tile. For a quick fix, add a floor rug. There are so many options, making it easy to find the perfect style, shape and color for your space. By making your floors stand out, your walls can only look better.

5. Storage, storage and more storage. Living in small spaces presents two options, building up or building under. Consider using bookshelves that go all the way to the ceiling for a more dramatic effect, or take advantage of the space underneath your bed to store things you’d love to keep out of sight.

6. Fabric is just one easy and inexpensive way to combine all the elements in your room together. Have fun by combining patterns, styles and different textures of fabric.

7. Fake architectural detail. This can be done in a variety of ways. My faves are to use painter’s tape or molding. With painter’s tape you can create horizontal or vertical lines, which can make the room look bigger. You can also make shapes like rectangles and squares, creating a box on the wall for framing out furniture, sconces or your favorite picture. With moldings you can give the illusion of added depth and dimension to the walls. Like painter’s tape, making a small box with molding can create a look that’s certainly classic.

8. Anchor your room by investing your money in substantial furniture pieces you can work around. Buying a timeless sofa or kitchen table will save you money as your style changes.

9. Consider simple fixes before you get rid of something. Inexpensive solutions: Bring life back to leather furniture with a little olive oil; make your kitchen chairs new again with a little spray paint and some fabric; get the scratches out of your wood floor and furniture by rubbing them with an almond.

10. Don’t underestimate the Internet! There are so many great deals for every room in your home. After all, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

Marriages in India are synonymous to jewellery. The traditional jewellery of India is what makes the Indian weddings so rich and unique in their own manner. There are exclusive designs and works which complete the traditional look of the jewellery. The traditional gold jewellery is passed on for generations and families hold jewellery made many decades ago. The different jewellery includes armlets, bracelets, bangles, necklaces, earrings, fingerings, toe rings, nose rings, anklets, pendants and waistbands.

Different regions and cultures follow their unique designs and works. The south is known for its extensive temple based large deigns, the north is known for its exclusive carved designs, the west is known for its mirrored and stoned works and the east is famous for its beaded work. Many trends are taken from the Middle East regions but the designing is unique.

Pair of toe rings is a symbol of a married girl. These toe rings are usually made of silver and can even be studded with a stone. There are different styles of nose rings worn by women of different cultures. In the north they were large nose rings, sometimes the nose rings are bigger than the bangles they wear. The larger nose ring denotes the wealth of the husband. In the west nose rings are called nath, they are made of pearls and stones. Necklaces of traditional temple designs or the eminent kolhapuri sajh designs are sought after. North Indians cherish the traditional panchangal, which is a five ring connected gold jewellery for all the fingers in a hand. The waistband also known as kamarband is made out of gold or silver and is studded with precious stones. Earrings come in varied designs and types; there is the traditional long jhukams, which are long and bulky with detailed designing. The anklet is of two types; moveable and immovable. The flexible ones are made by joining rings of the metal, usually silver and the immovable ones are made like bangles with a gap to fit into the leg. The traditional Indian jewellery dates long back and is still famed for its design. These popular works are one of the sought after designs worldwide.

Taj The finest and the king of all tourist attractions in India, the Taj Mahal has become a landmark for India. Being one of the Seven Wonders in the World, India very proudly prides itself on the Taj. Incredibly it took almost 17 years and around 20,000 labors to erect this mammoth mausoleum. Most proficient of all craftsmen, stonemason, stone-carvers and calligraphers were brought together from all over India and far-off countries like Persia, Baghdad and Turkey to make this Symbol of Love.

Akshardham Temple Complex Stretching over an area of 1000 acres, the Akshardham Temple Complex is truly breathtaking. A beautiful fusion of the Orrisan, Mughal, Rajasthani, Jain and Rajasthani architectural style makes this temple a major attraction among the visitors and tourists. The construction of this temple took five years to complete and is a collective labor of more than 10,000 volunteers and workers.

Ellora Caves The Famous Ellora Caves have been mesmerizing the minds and senses of the foreign tourist for ages now. Dating back to 600 A.D to 1000 A.D this magnificent sight is actually amasses 34 cloisters and temples that stretch over a distance of 2 kms. Standing for Buddhism Jainism and Hinduism, this amazingly beautiful structure is a perfect epitome of the diversified culture of India.

Khajuraho Group of Monuments Erected during the Chandella dynasty, the Khajuraho is a brilliant artistic and architectural spectacle. The sculptures graved are quite a sight. Being one of the best attractions of Indian culture, these groups of monuments attract thousands of visitors and tourists each month.

Festivals and Fair that highlight the beautiful traditions of India are as follows:

Amarnath Yatra – Jammu & Kashmir During the month of Shravan, many worshippers and pilgrims come from many parts of the incredible country India just to make a strenuous hike to the famous caves of Amarnath in the valley of Himalayas (Kashmir Region). What keeps these pilgrimages to cover a long and tedious path is their faith in and affection for Lord Shiva.

Surajkund Crafts Mela – Surajkund – Haryana A beautifully colorful fair of its own kinds, the Surajkund Crafts Mela is pleasurably visited by the local Indians and tourists alike. Exhibiting the best of Indian handicraft and Indian craftsmanship, this mela primarily promotes the indigenous products of artisans from rural India.

India’s rich ethnic diversity, cultural heritage and lineage complemented with ages old mystical civilizations foregrounds the Handicrafts of India.

Handicrafts items have always enchanted the international tourists who come to unleash the flavors of India. They are the reflection of craftsman active imagination and are a medley of culture, religion, ethos, and traditions. The centuries old techniques and craftsmanship are employed while making this unique piece of art with the use of hands. It’s a family tradition and skill, that’s passed from one generation to another.

Handicrafts of India offers numerous motifs both intricate and beautiful in variety of crafted items like in Jewelries one can gift anklets, armlets, bangles, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pearls, pendants, rings; decorative items like bells and chimes, candle holders, fireplace, flower vases, armor, helmets, shields, swords; Furniture like Almirah, Beds, Cabinets, Chairs, Home Temples, Mirror Frames, Sofa Sets, Stools, Tables; Indian Paintings like Napkin Rings, Napkins, Pen Holders, Table Lamps, Table Mats; Paintings like Batik, Frame Paintings, Glass Paintings, Kalamkari, Madhubani, Marble Painting, Religious Paintings, Silk Paintings, Tanjore Paintings; Garden Accessories like Garden Benches, Bird Feeders, Fountains, Garden Planters, Garden Lights; clays and dolls like Clay Toys, Cloth Dolls, Papier Mache Dolls, Wooden Puppets, Wooden Toys. It can be used as ornaments, centerpieces, and decorative items.

With the sudden recognition and hype worldwide, Indian Handicrafts has carved its niche and has hoards of international buyers queuing for it.

Handicraft as the name suggests is the art of making various articles with hand. Also known as craft-work, this is an art to be learned by constant practice and firm determination. Handicraft is being associated with India for long. This is a prevalent art of the country since the Mughal reign. The handiwork products are specifically made by skilled artisans, who have gained proficiency by tradition.

Handicrafts represents the rich heritage of a country. Artisans and craftsmen indulge in bringing forth the history, culture and tradition of the nation in handcrafted items. In this context, India is deeply engrossed into making of handicrafts. The rich vibrant color of these hand-made items has established a grand global market. Manufacturing of various crafts such as pottery, ceramics, clay pieces, paintings, sculptures, antique furniture, textiles, paper craft etc has helped in generating enough revenue of the handicraft industry.

In Asia, these industries give an additional employment and raise the level of living for both rural and urban people. The market share of global handicrafts industry counts 100 billion. Handicraft industry serves a dominant role in the development of economy of the rural mass and earns substantial foreign exchange.

Handicrafts of a country showcases the rich cultural and artistic history of that nation. The vibrancy of Indian ethnicity can be easily noticed to be alive in the exotic handicrafts masterpieces. All the beautifully handcrafted items which catches the fancy of art connoisseurs world over are mainly categorized under the following heads :

Cane and Bamboo Crafts
Handmade paper craft
Bell Metal Crafts
Jute Handicrafts
Clay and terracotta crafts
Textile crafts
Stone Crafts
Wooden Handicrafts

Indian manufacturers are engaged in carving endless articles such as antiques, blue pottery, carved firniture, metal work, marble work, wooden crafts, miniature paintings, sculptures, enduring paintings, Pichwais, toys, traditional games, handmade office accessories, home furnishings, home decorations, papier mache, apparels, accessories and many more hand-made items of your interest and need.

Handicrafts reflect the tradition of a particular place. It carries tales dated back to 1000 years of the kings and queens, and tells stories about a particular culture and its heritage. Wooden handicrafts such as wooden figures, gold painted figure, wooden chess set, wooden animal figure and other Indian Wooden Handicraft Items are designed beautifully by the craftsman. The vast range of handicrafts showcasing the rare artistry skills and innovations comprises of handicraft jewelry, handicraft home furnishing items, handicraft decorative items, handicraft table accessories, handicraft antique armory, handicraft paintings, handicraft garden accessories, toys, etc.

When one has a close look at these wooden items, they truly reflect spirit of Indian Craftsmanship along with the right shades of traditional beauty and style. They are popularly used as gift articles due to their beautiful appearance. Indian handicrafts are well known for its ethnic and traditional designs. Handicraft is quite flourishing in the Indian industry due to its vast diversity and rich cultural heritage. Sculptural handicrafts are displayed in an exquisite range of sculptural moulded figures made from varied bases like metals, stones, wood, etc. Macrame handicraft items obtainable as ladies bags, napkin holders, telephone mats and related paraphernalia designed artistically are specimens of excellent craftmanship. The handcrafted costume jewelry embellished in gold, silver, platinum, white metal, crystal, glass, etc. and studded with precious and semi-precious stones is another feature that add to the rich repertoire of Indian handicraft and gift items.

India is a land where exporting is much a necessity than a preferred choice. It is a highly populated land where commerce and business are the need of the hour. And then, India is also a leader in various fields, and the abundance of few specialized items can afford it to export such items. However, when we talk about the Indian Export Business, do we easily think of Handicraft industry? Not really, because Agriculture as a major export area is a famous and popular concept, overshadowing many other fields.

India is indeed one of the major exporters of handicrafts and gift items. Owing to a heritage of rich art and craft culture in ancient times, Indian Handicraft sector is recognizable for their most popular craft items like earthenware, pottery, woodwork, sculpting, scarves, shawls, textiles, embroidered and knitted goods, zari items, jewelry, etc. Indian Handicraft goods have a great demand overseas, as they are a perfect mix of traditional designs with modern techniques. The export of Handicraft items in India is growing exponentially, and so-much-so that it is emerging as the second largest employment generating sector after Agriculture. Hence, a large number of artisans are engaged in designing pottery and other craft work.

# Wooden ware- Saharanpur, Hoshiarpur, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mysore, Madras, Kerala, Behrampur
# Marble and Stone Craft- Jodhpur, madras, Agra
# Zari Goods- Madras and Rajasthan
# Art Metal- Moradabad, Aligarh, Rewari, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Madras, Beedar, Kerala, Jaisalmer
# Jewelry- Delhi, Moradabad, Kohima
# Papier Mache items- Kashmir, Rajasthan and Bihar

India is a land of art and crafts. Using locally available goods and guided by a beautiful vision they make wonderful artifacts. Most of Indian garments carry a kind of embroidery or the other in order to be more beautiful and attractive. Embroidery in general terms, is a kind of work of fine threads on the surface of a fabric in an artistic pattern.

Chikankari: This is one of the most sought after embroidery work of India. Chikankari is most delicately done embroidery on muslin, georgette, chiffon and other fine fabrics with white yarn. Different kind of stitches like flat stitches, embossed stitches and small stitches make the fabric very beautiful. A fabric that is to be embellished with chikankari undergoes through five different processes viz. stitching, printing, embroidery, washing, and finishing. Creeper motif is the most commonly used motif in chikankari, whereas flower motifs like jasmine, rose, flowering stems, lotus and paisley motifs are also very popular. Chikankari embroidery is not limited to only garments but it is done on various home furnishing items also like cushion covers, pillow covers, table linen and partition curtains. Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is the biggest center of Chikankari.

Kantha: This is local embroidery style of Bengal practiced by Bengali women to make it over home furnishing items. Old cotton saris are used as base and the thread used is also old. This is marked by small running stitches that give a series of dotted lines. The outer surface of the old cotton sari undergoes through a lot of needlework and it changes the appearance of the old sari to new and fresh one. The usual motifs made in kantha are gods and goddesses, animals, flowers and different geometric patterns. There are various kind of kantha on the base of their use and the process of manufacturing. Some important ones are Archilata kantha, Baiton kantha, Durjani/thalia, Oaar kantha, Sujani kantha and Rumal kantha.

Kathi : This style of embroidery is done by the Rabari nomadic tribe of Gujarat. This style is marked by the combination of chain stitch along with appliqué work and the embellishments of small mirrors. Bright colors fabrics are used for this embroidery and the folk flavor of Gujarat looks on with full vibrancy.

Zardozi: This style of embroidery flourished in the medieval period under the patronage of emperor Akbar. You will find the creative use of laid stitch with the golden thread in zardozi. This embroidery is very intricate, and complex but beautiful and elegant. Zardozi could be done on saris, wall hangings, caps and other articles. For zardozi, golden wires or zari is used which is made after strenuous efforts that involve winding, twisting, wire drawing and gold plating of thread. Suart and Banaras are the principal centers of zardozi presently. Zardozi done garments are very popular and high in demand these days.