Cultural Overview Of Agra

Carpet weaving, leather ware, marble inlay, jewellery and zardozi (embroidery with gold thread) are some of the specialities of this skill-dominated city. Carpet weaving is a family skill, which is passed down from one generation to the next. A range of qualities in silk, cotton and wool are available. Most of the designs still follow the traditional Persian motifs, though recently there have been some innovations in the woven dhurries. Agra’s leather industry is quite well developed. Shoes, bags, briefcases and jackets are exported from here.

In Agra, artisans continue to practice the traditional craft of marble inlay work. You can buy tabletops, vases, trays, and even replicas of the Taj Mahal, which have traditional floral patterns inlaid with semi-precious stones. Intricate embroidery on fabrics with gold thread was very popular with the Mughal rulers. Today, the tradition continues, with entire families sitting down together to work on a piece. It requires great patience and is physically taxing, but the results can be stunning.