The bright and amazing beauty of the nature of India is reflected in various types of decorative folk art. However, a significant influence on the Indian ornament used to decorate fabrics and ornaments, furniture and utensils had a religion practiced in a particular region of this multinational and multiconfessional country.
Floral ornament
In that part of India, where Islam is the main religion, the most widespread, as in other Muslim cultures, are floral and geometric ornaments. This is due to the fact that in this religion there is a ban on the image of the face of Allah, people and animals. Indian craftsmen have reached the highest level of craftsmanship by creating floral patterns. The most beloved and popular are the sacred lotus flower, symbolizing creativity, cloves and fruits of mango, pomegranate. Often in patterns include images of trees - palm trees and cypress.
So, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the main Indian ornament is flower garlands and medallions. And also the Tree of Life, borrowed from Persian culture. Such ornaments and patterns are applied not only to household items, they also decorate the walls in houses, decorate fabrics and use them in the traditional art of henna drawing - mehendi. Among the whole variety of plant drawings, one should distinguish such an Indian ornament as buta, better known in Europe under the name "paisley".
"Indian Cucumber"
Buta is a very important symbol, meaning fire in Indian culture.
This pattern is loved in India, widely used in art and everyday activities. Saris and shawls decorated with various interpretations of “Turkish cypress”, as the paisley is also called, are worn by women of all faiths. The question of where and when this Indian
ornament appeared, a drawing of which is very popular in the modern world and adorns furniture, clothes, shoes, jewelry and other objects in many countries, is still open. For superiority, India and Persia have been arguing for several centuries. The basis of this pattern is a drop-shaped form with a curved tip, which can be empty or filled from the inside with plant or abstract patterns and elements.
Geometric patterns
Various geometric Indian patterns and ornaments are no less popular and widespread, among which one can distinguish "gyasir" - fish scales, "jali" - lattice.
Often, when creating patterned motifs, simple lines and angles, triangles are used, directed both upward and symbolizing the masculine beginning, and downward - representing the feminine. On fabrics, you can see squares, rhombuses and circles, which can be filled with both geometric and plant elements. The Indian ornament often uses a checker pattern and a swastika motif as a symbol of divine fire and the sun. This group of patterns also includes religious ones depicting the obligatory attributes of gods - tridents (trishuls), various drums (damars) and such a common ritual pattern as tilak - a tick with a dot in the center. When decorating clothes, scenes from the divine life of Ganesha, Shiva and Krishna can be performed.
Animal images
In Central India and Rajasthan, where most of the population professes Buddhism and Hinduism, the decor uses floral and geometric patterns. As well as images of animals such as elephants, camels and lions, and birds, as a rule, parrots and peacocks with spread tails - symbolizing well-being and prosperity.
It should be noted such a feature of Indian art as naturalism and the almost complete absence of stylization when creating animalistic patterns and ornaments.