Goa Art & Craft Location : On the Popular Beaches World Famous For : Wines, Goan Sausages, Spices Antique Items : Goa Montage, Tiles with Mario Miranda's Innovation Other Charms : Sea Shell Artifacts, Papier- Mâché

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Arts And Culture - Reflecting A Myriad Culture

Flea Market , Goa

With an ancient history that goes back to a few thousand years, Goa has come under the influence of various tastes across the ages. Over the pages of history, Goa swiftly compiled all the best it can get and evolved as a melting pot of Portuguese art and native handicrafts. Today the Goan culture is an impeccable mosaic of bright and myriad colors - the ostentatious designs of Latin acumen set against the perpetual hues of traditional Indian attitudes and lifestyles. No doubt, a vacation plan on the sea-adored land of Goa is surely going to give you an altogether different experience - beauty merged with intricate craftsmenship.

A Heartful of Gifts From Nature Presented To You By People of Goa

Goan handicrafts are made from the abundant natural raw material strewn all around its beaches and villages. You can get a sundry variety of shell artifacts - lampshade, jewellery, mirrors. The object d'art is interestingly the exquisite coconut shell items and is a must buy for every tourist to Goa. The local craftsmen fabricate an impressive array of designer arts - Ganesha's head or an old goan man- besides creating varied interior decoration items of tourist interest. Terracota heads the list of traditional art forms available in goa with vast selections made by the artisans from Kumbharvada in Bicholim. These range from pots planters and urns in a spectrum of shapes and sizes, to intricately crafted planters in tortoise, pig and toad form. Remember to look for some wooden lacquer articles in festive colours like green and red, popularly known as 'chitaris', dreamed up by master craftsmen from Cuncolim in South Goa.

During a Goan marriage, one can come across a number of awe-inspiring creations in fabrics. Starting from handmade needlework in a popular table cloth size of 6 ft by 4 ft, these splendid works trace their limits to embroidered bedsheets, cushions, covers and even batik spreadsheets. For jewellery lovers, there is an imposing collection of locally crafted beads in myriad hues - black, red, green and white - and contemporary designs, that enthralls every visitor. Get yourself a nice earring or bracelet, made from pure silver and sometimes set with semi-precious stones, heavily influenced by designs from Rajasthan and Gujrat.

Goa Crafts

Think of Goa and we can't blame you if sausages come to your mind! The Goans have been trusting them for their meat for 120 years and tourists trust them now when it comes to buying the matchless hand-painted glazed blue-and-white ceremic tiles or 'azulejos' that are a legacy of Portugal to many of her former territories. Head to Panjim for these perfect Goan souvenirs - lightweight and easily carried. Over short distances, that link hand to heart, the tiles and ceremics are turned into a variety of brightly coloured items like wall hangings, picture frames, jewellery boxes and coasters. Don't forget to experience and order a montage of Goa created by Mario Miranda, beautifully reproduced on tiles.

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You just cannot resist yourself by beholding those magical works of craftsmenship. You have to get one to satiate your appetite for beauty. The best places to pick up Goan handicrafts at a reasonable price are at the government-run handicraft emporia across the state. Otherwise, tourists can travel to specific destinations and get some of those exquisite handicrafts besides enjoying a holiday at those places.