Handicrafts are mostly defined as "Items made by hand, often with the use of simple tools, and are generally artistic and/or traditional in nature. They are also objects of utility and objects of decoration." The Indian handicrafts are known the world over for their rich variety, grace, elegance and skilled. Excavations conducted in different parts of India prove that India in various periods had unmemorable handicrafts. The ruins and remains unearthed from Mohan-Jo-Daro prove the high skill of craftsmanship of the inhabitants of this region. Household utensils plain and painted pottery brought about by the rhythmic turning of the wheel, terracotas, weapons and implements, ornaments, were some of the artistic and valuable things found there. Varieties of handicrafts are produced over time in all parts of the country including tribal areas. Thus handicrafts of any given time and space reflect and preserve in them the results of centuries of patient experiments of man under varying circumstances. Like art craft treasures also reflect the taste of human society through the individual and give collective mind of the community.
Crafts not only satisfy economic wants but also the aesthetic yearning of man.
According to Export Promotion Council of Handicraft (EPCH), the share of Indian handicrafts is only 0.08% in the world market while China in just 5 years has cornered 56% of the export market.
Classification of Handicraft
Handicrafts can be broadly classified in three categories
Consumer goods: Artisan prepare such utilitarian goods for self consumption or for exchange such baskets for keeping domestic articles, smoking pipes, footwear, hunting arrows, combs, storing, wooden and stone plates for use ,textile items like shawls, coats, jackets.
Processing industries: such as minor forest products for self consumption and for exchange at weekly hatt on barter age system or sell them for money to purchase other items for