Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan in Bhuj
As you already know Bhuj is known to be one of the prominent handicraft centers of India. There are several tribal villages around Bhuj who specialize in different types of embroidery, mirror work, prints and handicraft making. These tribes also have a unique style of living and different ways of artistic expression like folk literature and folk art.The Rann of Kutch has given birth to some of India’s finest talent and this is precisely why the Gujarat Government has taken steps of proactively setting up a cultural center that can showcase the myriad expressions of folk life.
History of Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Museum
The Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan museum is also called the Folk museum and it is the top cultural center in Gujarat. This museum was established more than 60 years back by Ramsinhji Rathod who was a scholar of the tribal arts in Gujarat. Ramsinhji was so impressed by seeing the intricacy and exquisite beauty of the handicrafts and handlooms made by tribes of Gujarat that he wanted to do something to acknowledge their talent. He designed a simple structure in the form of a mud hut with a stone door. Even the door had evidence of the cut stonework/ rock carving that the tribes of Bhuj is so famous for. There is a wide selection of rural architectural samples, paintings, pottery, handicrafts, scripts and handlooms in the museum.Later the museum was expanded in size and scope by the Government of Gujarat and now a center selling handicrafts has also been added to the museum. There are almost 4500 different variety of exhibits and more than 1500 books on art, literature and tribal culture.
Sections of Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Museum
There is a central area in the museum which is devoted to rural architecture. The tribes of the Rann of Kutch decorate their homes intricately with their art forms. Beautiful samples of the same along with textile art, pottery specimens and terracotta (burnt earth0 statues are also present in the central area of the museum.The Ethnological section is of special interest to any student or lover of history and anthropology. The Sahitya Chitra section is present here which contains precious books on tribal art forms and folklore. The other four sections are devoted to other aspects of tribal life.
Leather embroidery, carvings in wood, wall paintings, wall art, terracotta, silver karigari, bead work, wood painting etc are some of the art forms showcased in the museum. There are examples of weapons like knives and swords which were manufactured, maintained and used by Kutchi warriors.
There is a mud hut in the museum premises which has a Kothala/ treasury depicting one of the most ancient variations of the modern vault/safe.
Location of the Folk Museum
The museum is located in South Bhuj near the College RodeTimings of the Folk Museum
Open every day of the week apart from Monday from 10.00 AM to 1.15 P.M and 2.00 P.M to 6.00 P.MEntry Fees of the Folk Museum
Rs 10/- for Indians and Rs 50/- for ForeignersPhotography is not allowed inside the museum.