AGRA_CONTEXT STUDY

DAYALBAGHEDUCATIONALINSTITUTE

FACULTYOFARCHITECTURE

SESSION-2021-22

SUBMITTEDTO:-

SUBMITTEDBY:-

b)STONEINLAYS

c)ZARIZARDOZI

d)TEXTILESANDCARPETS

e)CUISINE

TABLEOFCONTENTS

1.OBJECTIVE

Themainobjectivehereistoknowaboutagra,itshistoryanditswideculture. Throughwhichagra’slocalcraftwillbeenlightenanditwillalsogivesomesourceof incometothelocalcraftmenshipandprovideagoodqualitycraftworktothe consumersthroughwhichalotofpeoplefromagraandoutsideagrawillgetto knowaboutagra’stradition,craft,history,whichwillhelpindevelopingknowledge ofthetouristandeventuallyitwillpromotetourismandcraft.

2.SCOPE

Itwillincreaseeconomyofagrabymeansoftourismandart.

Itwillgiveaplatformforlocalsellersaswellasnomadsellers.

Itwillgiveanopportunitytosellerstomanufactureandsellatsameplace whichwillreducetransportationcost.

3.INTRODUCTION 3.1LOCATION

AgraisacityonthebanksoftheYamunariverintheIndian stateofUttarPradesh,about210kilometres(130mi)south ofthenationalcapitalNewDelhiand335kmwestofthe statecapitalLucknow.Withapopulationofroughly1.6 million,Agraisthefourth-mostpopulouscityinUttar Pradeshandtwenty-thirdmostpopulouscityinIndia.

Area:10,863Sq.Km.

Population:4,418,797

Language:Hindi

Villages:906

Male:2,364,953

Female:2,053,844

ThenameAgraisexplainedby differentderivations.Themost acceptedoneisthatithaditsorigin fromtheHindiwordagarmeaning salt-pan.OthersderiveitfromHindu Historyclaimingthat theSanskritwordagra(अ)which meansthefirstofthemanygroves andlittleforests.Agrawasalso knownasAkbarabadintheMughal era.Thenamewascoinedbythe emperorShahJahan,inhonourofhis grandfatherAkbar.

3.2CONNECTIVITY

Agraiseasilyaccessible,especiallyfromDelhiandJaipur.Ithasitsowndomestic airport,whichisjust5kmfromthecityandalsodoublesupasthemilitaryairport. Itisalsowellconnectedbyanetworkoftrainstoalmostallthemajordestinations throughoutthecountryandsomeofthesuper-expresstrainsthatpassthroughit includetheRajdhaniExpressandtheShatabdiExpress.Boththegovernmentand privatebusesanddeluxecoachesruntoandfromAgratoallthenearbymajor destinationswithinandoutsideUttarPradesh.

BYAIR

Agra'sveryownKheriaairportisbarely5kmfromthecityandisalsoknownas AgraCivilEnclaves.Allthemajordomesticairlinesprovideflightservicestoand fromthecityofTaj.

BYTRAIN/RAIL

ItissurprisingtonotethatAgrahassevenrailwaystationsofitsown,excludingthe Tundlajunction,whichisjust1hourawayfromthecity.Howeverthetwomajor railwaystationsincludeAgraFortRailwayStationandAgraCanttRailwayStation. Raja-ki-Mandiisalsoapopularstopoverpointinthecity.Mostofthetrainsrunning acrossIndiapassthroughtheformertworailwaystationsincludingtheluxurytrain 'PalaceonWheels'andthesuperexpresstrainsknownasRajdhaniExpressand ShatabdiExpress.SomeoftheothermajortrainspassthroughTundla,well connectedtothecitybyroad.

BYROAD

AgraboastsofthreeNationalHighwaysincludingN.H.No.2,3and11.The governmentandprivatebusservicesareavailabletoandfromAgratoallthe nearbymajordestinations.Onecanhireordinarybusesorthedeluxecoaches, accordingtotheirrequirements.U.P.Tourismalsoconductsspecialguidedtours forthetourists,whocomeherejustforaday,includingTajMahal,AgraFort, SikandraandFatehpurSikriintheiritineraries.

4.HISTORY

ItisgenerallyacceptedthatAgrawasbothanancientcityfromthetimesofthe MahabharataandyetneverthelessSultanSikandarLodi,theMuslimrulerofthe DelhiSultanate,foundedAgraintheyear1504.AftertheSultan’sdeath,thecity passedontohisson,SultanIbrahimLodi.

Thegoldenageofthecitybeganwith theMughals.Agrawastheforemost cityoftheIndiansubcontinentandthe capitaloftheMughalEmpire.Under Mughalrule,Agrabecameacentrefor learning,arts,commerce,andreligion, andsawtheconstructionoftheAgra Fort,SikandraandAgra'smostprized monument,theTajMahal,builtby ShahJahanasamausoleumforhisfavouriteempress.Withthedeclineofthe Mughalempireinthelate18thcentury,thecityfellsuccessivelyfirst toMarathasandlatertotheEastIndiaCompany.AfterIndependence,Agrahas developedintoanindustrialtown,withaboomingtourismindustry,alongwith footwear,leatherandothermanufacturing.TheTajMahalandtheAgraFort areUNESCOWorldHeritageSites.

5.GEOGRAPHY

TheregionaroundAgraconsistsalmostentirelyofalevelplain,withhillsinthe extremesouthwest.TheriversintheregionincludeYamunaandChambal.The regionisalsowateredbytheAgraCanal.Millet,barley,wheatandcottonare amongthecropsgrowninthesurroundingcountryside.BothRabiandKharifcrops arecultivated.ThedesertedcityofFatehpurSikriisabout40kmsouthwestof Agra.ThesandstonehillsnearFatehpurSikriandonthesouth-easternbordersof thedistrictareoffshootsfromtheVindhyarangeofCentralIndia.Agraisabout 210kmawayfromtheNationalcapitalofNewDelhi(viaYamunaExpressway), about336kmfromstatecapitalLucknow(viaAgra-LucknowExpressway),andabout 227kmfromKanpur(viaAgra-LucknowExpressway).Thecityhasanaverage elevationof170metresabovesealevel.

6.CLIMATE

Thecityfeatureswarmwinters,swelteringanddrysummersand amonsoonseason.TheAgradistrict,fromitsproximitytothesandyTharDesertto thewest,isrelativelydry,andhasgreaterextremesoftemperaturethandistricts furthereast.Thehotwestwind,LooblowsmainlyduringApril,May,andJunewith greatforceandcancausefatalheatstrokes.Themonsoonrainsusuallybegininthe firstweekinJuly;andgenerallyendinmid-September.However,themonsoons, thoughsubstantialinAgra,arenotquiteasheavyasthemonsooninotherpartsof India.TheweathermoderatesbythemiddleofOctober.TheregionaroundAgra, thenorthwestIndo-Gangeticplainispronetoextremefoginthewintermonths, whichiscausedduetonaturalfactorslikelowwinds,lowtemperatures,availability ofmoistureapartfromairpollution.Thisphenomenonoftenleadstobigdelays andsometimescancellationoftrainsduetopoorvisibility.Agrahashighlevelsof airpollutionandoneoftheworstAQIsinIndia.InastudyconductedbyWHOusing datafromyears2010–2016,Agrarankedasthe8thmostpollutedcityinIndia,

7.DEMOGRAPHICS

Withapopulationofroughly1.6million,Agraisthefourth-mostpopulouscityin UttarPradeshandtwenty-thirdmostpopulouscityinIndia.Asperthe2011Census ofIndia,Agracityhasapopulationof1,585,704;itsmetropolitanpopulationis 1,760,285.ThesexratioofAgracityis875femalesper1000males,whilethechild sexratiois857girlsper1000boys.TheaverageliteracyrateofAgracityis73.11% ofwhichmaleandfemaleliteracyratesare77.81%and67.74%respectively.

HinduismisthemostfollowedreligioninAgracitywith80.68%ofitspopulation adheringtoit.IslamissecondmostfollowedreligioninthecityofAgrawith15.37% ofthepopulationfollowingit.ThesearefollowedbyJainism,Sikhism,Christianity andBuddhismat1.04%,0.62%,0.42%and0.19%respectively.Approximately1.66% stated'NoParticularReligion'.

8.CULTURE

Agrahasbeenknownforitslifestyleandculture,thepeoplehereareveryjoyful. Somepointsofitscultureare-

Attires–wearingsarees,kurtapajamas,dhoti-kurta,andsalwarkameez alongwithmodernjeansandt-shirts.PeopleusuallypreferredtowearIndian footwear.Ondifferentoccasions,peopleliketowearclotheslikeghagra-choli andkurta-sherwanionfestivalsandmarriages.

Language-Hindi,Urdu

Localcuisine-petha,kebab

9.LOCALFESTIVALS

8.1TAJMOHOTSAV

TajMahotsavisaculturalfestivalandcraftfairthatwasstartedintheyear1992 andhasgrownsincethen.Theyear2019wasthe28thyearofthisMahotsav.The fairisheldinabigfieldinShilpgram,neartheeasterngateoftheTajMahal.This festivalalsofiguresinthecalendarofeventsoftheDepartmentofTourism, GovernmentofIndia.AlargenumberofIndianandforeigntouristscomingtoAgra jointhisfestivity.Oneoftheobjectivesofthiscraftfairistoprovideencouragement totheartisans.Italsomakesavailableworksofartandcraftatreasonableprices thatarenotinflatedbyhighmaintenancecost.TheMahotsavishostedfrom18to 27Februaryeveryyear.Thethemeforthe2020TajMahotsavwasSanskritike Rang,TajkeSang.Forthefirsttimesince1992,TajMahotsav2021hasbeen cancelled,becauseoftourismrestrictionsduringtheCOVID-19pandemic.

8.2BATESHWARFAIR

Bateshwarisjust70kmfromAgraandisnamessoafterthepresidingdeityofthe region,BateshwarMahadeo.Itisanimportantspiritualandculturalcentre boastingof108templesofthevariousgodsandgoddessesofHindus.Bateshwar FairisorganizedhereannuallyduringthemonthsofOctoberorNovemberinthe honorofLordShivaforamonth.Thousandsofdevoteesvisitthevenuetotake holydipsinRiverYamunaandparticipateintheLivestockandCattleFair,whichis famousinthenearbyareas.

8.3RAMBARAT

ThespecialmarriageprocessionofSriRam,heldannuallyatAgra,isknownas 'Rambarat'andprecedesDussehra.Itisapartof'Ramlila',thestagingoflifeof RamathatendswithkillingofRavana,onthedayofDussehra.Itsspecialtyliesin thebeautiful'jhankis'ofthedeitiesandthespecialsetofthepalacearrangedatthe chosenvenueas'Janakpuri',thepalaceofRajaJanakwhowasthefatherof

GoddessSita.Amajorfairisorganizedinthelocalityandthousandsofpeoplevisit thevenuetoseethefairandattendtheelaborateroyalweddingofthedivine deities.TheprocessionstartsfromLalaChannomaljiKiBaradarifortheJanakpuri venueandpassesthroughdifferentpartsofthetown.Specialchariotcoveredwith silverleavesisusedasthemountofRamwhilehisbrothersmounttheelephants. Theelaborateandheavyheadgearslookstunning.Teenagedboysplaythefemale charactersofthedrama.

8.4KAILASHFAIR

HeldatKailashtempleinthehonorofLordShiva,12kmfromAgra,Kailashfairis celebratedtocommemoratetheappearanceofLordShivaintheformofastone lingamhereinthemonsoonmonthsofAugustandSeptember.Themajorfair attractsdevoteesfromallthenearbyareas.

9.FAMOUSLOCALCRAFTS

ThecityofAgraisknownforitsrichtraditionalhandicraftsandmostofthesecrafts haveadeepandinterestinghistorybehindthem.Drawingtheirinfluencesfromthe variousrulersofAgra,thesecraftsretaintheirroyalauratilltoday.

9.1LEATHER

LeatherfootwearofAgraisknowninternationallyforsuperbcraftsmanship. Completelyhandmadeshoesareaclassapart.Garments,purses,wallets,beltsare otherproductsbeingmadeinthecity,wellknownfortheircraftsmanshipand quality.Therawmaterialforshoemakingisalsomanufactureinagrathiswill promoteincome,mainmarketforleatherproductinagraishingkimandiand kinaribazar.Arearequiredforshoemakingisapproximately100sq.m

Agraisthelargestfootwearmanufacturingcentre inIndiacateringtoroughly65%ofthedemandin thecountry.Thefootwearindustryemploys25%of totalpopulationofAgradirectlyorindirectly.

Shoesareeithercompletelyhand-craftedor producedwiththehelpofhigh-endmachines.In eithercase,theproductionunitwouldhavemainly fourdepartmentsinwhichaprogressiverouteis followed:

CuttingInthisdepartment,thetoppartoftheshoe,called'vamp'or'upper',ismade.

Closing-Herethecomponentpiecesaresewntogetherbyhighly skilledmachinistssoastoproducethecompletedupper.

LastingThecompletedupperstaketheshapeofafootwiththehelpofa'last'.Lastis aplasticorwoodenmouldthatsimulatestheshapeofafoot.

Finishing–

Finalproduct

PROCESSOFLEATHERMANUFACTURING

PROCESSOFMAKINGLEATHERPRODUCTINSIDEFACTORY

9.2STONEINLAYS(alsoknownas‘PIETRADURA’)

AgraisfamousforParchinkariworkwhichisveryminuteandpreciseinlaywork. Theartisansworktogetherasacooperative,meaningeachofthemremainsan individualartistwithcompletecreativefreedom,butallprofitsaresharedequally.

•Extremeskillisrequiredtofirstsawthestone, suchasagate,jasperandheliotrope,intothin piecesofvariousshapesandsizes,usingbowsaws withabrasives.

•Eachshapeisgroundindividuallyandmustfit preciselywithoutanygaps.Onceaperfectfithas beenachieved,themarbleplateintowhichthe ornamentalpatternwillbeintegrated,iscovered withalayerofhennapaint.

•Thesinglepiecesthatmaketheinlaypatternare laidoutonthemarbleplateandtheiroutlines scratchedintothesurface.

•Theorangecolorservesasanorientation whencarvingouttheindividualgrooves, intowhichthesemipreciousstonepieces willbeglued.

•Notmuchhaschangedinthe363years sincethecompletionoftheTajMahal:the glueinuseisstillapastemadefromsugar cane,beeswax,honey,lemonjuice,marble dustandlentils.Agrindstoneshardis usedtosmoothsurfaceaftertheinlays havebeeninserted.

•Thehennapaintisalsoremovedduring thissmootheningprocess.Theinlaypiece isnowproperlyintegratedintothemarble plate,andgetsafinalfinishwithalayerof wax.

TYPES OF MATERIALS USED:

 MARBLE

 SEMI PRECIOUS STONES

 RED OXIDE

 TRADITIONAL GLUE

 HAND OPERATED EMERY WHEEL

 CHISELLING TOOLS (Tankiya and Narzi)



TYPE OF MARBLE USED:

 INDIAN MARBLE

 BLACK MARBLE

 INDIAN GREEN MARBLE (BARODA GREEN).

TYPE OF SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES USED:

 LAPIS LAZULI

 MALACHITE,

 TURQUOISE

 CORAL

 CORNELIAN

 PAUA SHELL

MARBLE INLAY USED AS: BUILDING MATERIAL, MONMUMENTS, TABLE TOPS, PLATES, BOXES, TRAYS, COASTER SETS, CHESSBOARDS BACKGAMMON BECK GAMMON BOARD PEN HOLDERS,CARD HOLDERS, ASHTRAYS, PAPER WEIGHTS, VASES, WINE CUPS, ELEPHANT STATUTES, BATH ROOM TILES, BORDER TILES, ETC.

The main markets for shopping for marble artefacts in Agra are near the Taj Mahal complex, Sadar Bazaar, Kinari Bazaar, Loha Mandi and Munro Road. The UP State Emporium called Gangotri at the Taj Mahal Complex, offers a range of marble handicrafts at economic prices.

1. The Set-Up Lines are where you set up and prepare the mold per the customer’s order. These are also used as conveyor lines to move the molds to the next step.

2. After the molds are set up you will transfer them to the Spray Booth where the gel coat will be applied. There are four types of gelcoat spray carts to choose from. There is a flat, a Tilt, a Rotate and a combo Tilt/Rotate.

3. After you’ve applied the gel coat it needs to partially cure before you can pour on it. In a cold climate this can take up to an hour but a Gel Coat Curing Tunnel will cut this time in half, eliminate a bottle neck, and keep the production line moving. If you’re manufacturing in a warm climate a curing tunnel may not be required, but would keep dust and other contaminates from landing in your fresh gel coat.

4. After your gel coat has cured you will move the mold to the vibrating table where the matrix will be poured. The vibrating table levels the matrix and allows the air inside the mix to rise to the surface. The matrix is mixed in one of three sizes of blenders; a 150, 250 or a 350 pound.

5.OncethemoldisfilledyouwillmoveittoaMulti-LevelMoldStorageRackthat canbeuptofivelevelshighandwhichobviouslystoresfivetimesmoremoldsin thesamesizefactorythanonethatdoesn’thaveasystem.Asyouexpandyour marketandyourbusinessgrows,youwillneedtoaddadditionalmoldstoyour inventory.Insteadofacostlymoveintoalargerbuilding,youcansimplyslipin anotherstorageracktoaccommodatetheaddedmolds.(Wekeepfuture expansioninmindwitheveryfactorylayoutwedo.)

6.Afterthemarbleissufficientlycured,themoldwillbepulledoutoftherackusing thescissorliftandrolledovertotheDe-MoldLinewherethepartsareremovedfor detailing.Themoldisreadytorunthroughthecycleagain.

7.Everypartyouproducewillhaveflashingaroundthebottomoutsideedgethatwill needtobesandedoff.ADustCollectorwillcontainthedust,givingyouahealthier environmentandpreventingcontaminationonyourfreshlygelcoatedmolds.There areseveraldustcontainmentsystemsavailableincludingonethatwillrecycletheair insideyourfactory,savingyousubstantialheatingorairconditioningcosts.

8.Buffingline.Aftertheproducthasbeensandedaroundtheedge,youwillwantto looktheproductoverforanyblemishesandbuffoutanyimperfections.

9.3ZARIZARDOZI(MetalEmbroidery)

ZarinPersianmeansgold,whiledozimeansembroidery.Thewordzardosicanthus beinterpretedassewingwithgoldandsilverthreads.Zariiswovenintofabrics, primarilymadeofsilk,feltorvelvettocreateintricatepatterns.

FourtypesofzariareproducedinIndia,namely,realzari,semirealzari,imitation zariandplasticzari.

REALZARIismadeofsilverandelectroplatedwithgold.

SEMIREALZARIhasacompositionofcoppercoatedwithsilverandgold electroplating.

IMITATIONZARIismadeofcopperelectroplatedwithsilver.

PLASTICZARI,ismanufacturedusingmetallicyarn.Othermaterialsusedfor makingzariincludecottonyarn,silkandartsilk.

Realzariisusedincostlyproduct;however,itsuseislimitedcomparedtoimitation andplastic.

•Theprocessofzarizardosibeginswiththecraftsmendrawingthebasiclayoutof thedesignonabutterpaper,whichislaterperforatedusinganeedle.

•Hethenmarksthedesignsonthefabricwhichisstretchedonawoodenframe calledaddahavingfourwoodenlegs.

•Thecraftsmenthenusesdifferenttypesofneedlesdependingonthedesignto makeintricatepatternswithzari.

ZARIWORK

9.4TEXTILESANDCARPETS

•AgrainUttarPradeshwasthefirstcarpetcenterinMughalIndia.The manufactureofcarpetsbyprisonersissaidtogobacktoAkbar'stimewhenhesent forPersiancarpet-weaverstotrainprisonersintheskill.Agrajailhadthe reputationofproducingsomeofthefinestcarpetsintheworld.

•Agraiswell-knownfornaturalvegetabledyes.

•TheplaceisknownforPersianstylecarpets.Agradesignsgiveemphasisto eleganceandsimplicitysurroundedbyboldfloralborders.

•Theyareknownforrealisticboldpatterns.Thedesignsaredevelopedbynative weaversandalsoincludevarioustintsoftheTajMahalinnaturalcolours

Processofweavingoffinalcarpetcraft

9.5CUISINE

Agra'scuisineisderivedfromitsMughalpast.Mughlaicuisinemainlyconsistsof meatenrichedwithcreamy,boldlyflavouredcurries,withlotsofdriedfruitsand spices.Vegetariandishes,usingpaneerinsteadofmeatareequallyloved.Mughal cuisineisavailableinrestaurantsallaroundthecity.

Petha,asweetmadeusingashgourd,isoneofthefamousdishesofAgra, andisavailableinmanyvarieties.

Theirprocessrequires

AnotherdishthatisendemictoAgra isDalmoth,whichisadrysnackmadewith spicyfrieddal(lentils),nutsandraisins.The breakfastspecialtiesincludeBedai,whichis apuffykachori(madewithall-purposeflour, whichisdeepfried)withspicyfillinginside andisgenerallyservedwith spicyaloosabzianddahi.(Curd)