Sanskriti Museum at Humayun’s Tomb celebrates India’s everyday art and craft traditions
The new Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art & Indian Textiles has opened at the Humayun’s Tomb complex in Delhi, featuring over 1,000 artifacts. The collection highlights traditional Indian craftsmanship and textiles, aiming to preserve cultural heritage through a life-cycle approach to curation.
Why it matters
The museum serves as a significant cultural repository, promoting the appreciation of traditional Indian arts and crafts against the backdrop of mass production.
A striking 19th-Century tiger mask and a brass breastplate from Karnataka greet visitors at the entrance of the newly opened Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art & Indian Textiles. Located within the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum in Delhi, these pieces offer a fascinating preview of the living traditions, regional master craftsmanship, and rich cultural tapestries preserved within.
The new gallery showcases a legendary collection of over 1,000 artifacts and textiles assembled over five decades by OP Jain, founder of the Sanskriti Museums. The exhibits range from betel nut crackers, children’s toys, and writing instruments to lamps, combs, and kitchen utensils. Complementing these objects is a vast collection of Indian textiles, including bandhani from Rajasthan, kani shawls from Kashmir, and phulkaris from Punjab, among others from across the country.
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