Master Craftsman

The stone cutting handicraft found in and around Agra—the city of the Taj—is one of the many legacies of the Mughals in India. This is the location of our artisan group, who created the candle holders that is part of our candle meditation set. Pankaj Sharma, the son of a great artisan, recalls his father beginning their workshop in a small room in their home. They now create a variety of stone products such as animal sculptures, book ends, idols, scent lamps, photo frames, candle holders, chess sets, and tic-tac-toe board sets.

Pankaj, 36, has mastered his father's craft. He describes the many sorts of stones and their native names: palewa stone, gorara stone, grey stone, rambo stone, and Italian stone. The majority of the marble utilised in his factory originates from Rajasthan, exactly as it did centuries ago when Shahjahan built the Taj. The majority of stone cutting and craftsmanship is done by male craftsmen.

Pankaj has witnessed the impact Fair Trade has made to the lives of his craftspeople. 8 to 9 craftsmen work frequently with Pankaj, and they now use masks to avoid breathing dust, apply safety measures, and take necessary precautions to avoid injury.

Our unique candle holders for quick trataka meditation are made by Pankaj and his team. Thank you for your purchase and for supporting artisanal handicraft.