Independence Day 2023: Google Doodle celebrates India's textile craftsmanship; includes 21 weave patches

On the occasion of India's 77th Independence Day, Google celebrates it by illustrating textile craftsmanship of India through its doodle.

The doodle has been illustrated by Delhi guest artist Namrata Kumar. The artist shared that the creative process behind this doodle work is the diverse textile craft forms present in India which cover a broad spectrum of techniques, like weaving styles, embroidery, hand painting among others.

She also ensures that the doodle represents different geographical regions of the country. For the doodle to look engaging, Kumar selected visually engaging textiles with an extensive list of textile craft forms. She composed a proper patchwork from all the textile swatches to make sure the proper visibility of each artwork.

The doodle includes patch from 21 textile art forms of India:

1. Kutch embroidery, Gujarat

2. Pattu weave, Himachal Pradesh

3. Jamdani, West Bengal

4. Kunbi weave textile, Goa

5. Fine Ikat, Odisha

6. Pashmina kani woven textile, Jammu & Kashmir

7. Benarasi, Uttar Pradesh

8. Paithani, Maharashtra

9. Kantha embroidery, West Bengal

10. Naga woven textile, Nagaland

11. Ajrakh block printing, Kutch, Gujarat

12. Apatani weave, Arunachal Pradesh

13. Phulkari embroidery, Punjab

14. Leheriya resist dyed textile, Rajasthan

15. Kanjeevaram, Tamil Nadu

16. Sujni embroidery, Bihar

17. Bandhni tie & dye, Gujarat and Rajasthan

18. Kasavi weave textile, Kerala

19, Ilkal handloom, Karnataka

20. Mekhla Chador, Assam

21, Kalamkari block/hand painted design, Andhra Prdesh

Google has also shared a couple of questions answered by the artist like what her creative process was for this Doodle artwork. To which she has answered that she identified the textile craft forms and researched and identified the diverse textile craft forms present in different parts of the country. From techniques to embroidery, different weaving styles, printing techniques, resist-dyeing techniques, hand-painted textiles, and more she made sure she represented different geographical regions of the country in a balanced way.

She also said, "Indian textiles have held a profound significance in my life, thanks to my mother's profession as a textile designer. Growing up surrounded by textiles from diverse regions, I developed a deep connection to these craft forms. Now, presented with the opportunity to create the Google Doodle for India's Independence Day, I see it as the perfect occasion to celebrate the country's rich and diverse textile traditions. In this artwork, each textile showcased is a testament to the collective craftsmanship of skilled artisans, cultivators, weavers, dyers, printers, and embroiderers. Together, they create these extraordinary textiles that embody the essence of India's creative spirit."

Also watch: From Kalamkari to Ajrakh, let's explore 4 of India's richest traditional block prints and their origins