The ongoing nine-day Vinayaka Chavithi festivities mark a vibrant phase in Hyderabad. The week also kicks off preparations for artists creating curated, handmade pieces for the gifting season, with Dasara, Diwali and weddings in October and November, followed by Christmas and New Year.
Canvas for Ganeshas
Bala Bhakta Raju painting Ganeshas
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“Art is a lifelong companion,” says artist Bala Bhakta Raju, known for his repertoire of Ganesha paintings since 2006. For him, September marks the start of the art-and-gifting season. “A painting of Ganesha is an all-season gift,” he says. “It is considered auspicious and meaningful for festivals, gruhapravesams, weddings or the start of new ventures.”
At his house-cum-studio in Warasiguda, Secunderabad, three-dimensional Ganesha line drawings in acrylic, oil and watercolour take centre stage. His works range from 3×3 to 6×4 inches, with the artist experimenting with colour, form and texture to capture different moods and symbolic nuances. His current project, a musical Ganesha series, depicts the deity playing the sitar, veena and mridangam. While he sells online, most patrons reach out to him directly. His works range from ₹5,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.
Traditional art
Framed Cheriyal masks on ikkat fabric
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A few kilometres away in Gajularamam, Cheriyal artisans have set micro-goals to keep their 10-hour workdays on track. “Since we create souvenirs and gift items throughout the year, we mostly have a busy schedule and take small breaks to manage the workload during the demanding festive season,” says master craftsman Saikiran Varma Dhanalakota, who has just returned from a two-day workshop for navy personnel and women in Visakhapatnam as part of a navy outreach programme.
Saikiran Varma (in a grey tee) and his family members at their studio at home
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The workspace at home is a mini gallery, vibrant with colours, brushes and other paraphernalia. For the Dhanalakotas, art is a collaborative effort. Saikiran works alongside his parents, Nageshwar and Padma, his wife Navya and his brother Sravan Kumar and his wife Prathyusha. Tasks such as canvas and scroll preparation, background colouring and fine-detail outlining are divided among the family, with four women also employed to assist with the process.
Artistic heritage
Unique and eco-friendly
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“Cheriyal art is unique, eco-friendly and reflects Telangana’s rich artistic heritage,” says Saikiran, pointing to the growing demand for traditional art as gifts. Cheriyal wall plates, masks and utility and desk items, including hand-painted coasters, fridge magnets and small decorative storage boxes, have found favour as souvenirs and personal gifts, as well as with corporates such as State Bank of India (SBI), NABARD and various government departments.
The artisans are giving the tradition a contemporary spin for the gifting season. This year, colourful decor pieces include framed Cheriyal masks set against ikat fabric in contrasting colours. The 9.5 × 14.5-inch wall plates are priced at ₹1,500. Between October and December, they sell around 5 lakh products, with profits reinvested in raw materials, framing equipment, tools and other supplies.
“We try to constantly adapt and create new designs to suit modern tastes without compromising on the core elements of Cheriyal art.”
For ceramic lovers
Handcrafted flowers
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Preparations for the October-January period are in full swing at MSN Pottery Studio, a vegan, zero-waste studio that uses solar energy to fire its clay in Kokapet. The much-awaited four-month potter market season, stretching from winter to spring, brings a different kind of energy, says studio founder and ceramic artist Manpreet Singh Nishter. The otherwise calm and peaceful studio, lined with plants including silverbells, as well as animals, buzzes with activity during the festive season. “The studio transforms into a thriving market,” he smiles.
Agarbatti stands
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Lotus-shaped ceramic agarbatti stands and candle holders are the super-jodi designs for the gifting season. Manpreet has also revived his star-shaped trinket dishes, inspired by turtles making their way into the ocean. “I got bored of making the same thing, but the demand made me remake it.”
The collection is inspired by Arribada, a Spanish word for ‘arrival’ that describes the mass nesting of ridley turtles along the Rushikulya coast in Odisha, which Manpreet witnessed during two visits to the site. “People have always been collecting handmade ceramics, but availability in Hyderabad was rare. One had to travel to Europe or Southeast Asia to buy them,” he says, highlighting the enduring interest in ceramic art among Hyderabadis.
Artisinal bouquet
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The studio is also illuminated by ceramic flowers, designed to be tied into gift bouquets. “These flowers last forever and also leave a smaller carbon footprint,” he says. “When insects and birds come to drink the nectar, they also help with pollination and spread pollen from one flower to another. But when we pluck flowers, insects have nothing left. It is also cruel to the ecosystem.”
As Manpreet readies material for his next clay-making workshop, he says, “One can buy things online and get millions of the same product. But art is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replicated.”
Published – September 16, 2026 04:41 pm IST
