Saturday, October 10, 2015

DakshinaChitra

DakshinaChitra
DakshinaChitra is an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. The main mission is to exhibit, promote and preserve aspects of the broader, more inclusive cultures of the states and to bring these arts to the public in a participative, enjoyable and engaging way. DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, a project of Madras Craft Foundation an NGO was opened to the public on December 14th 1996. The Museum is located overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, twenty five kilometers south of Central Chennai, on the East Coast Road to Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India.





DakshinaChitra has a collection of 18 authentic historical houses with contextual exhibitions in each house. All the houses bought and reconstructed at DakshinaChitra had been given for demolition by their owners. The authentic homes in a regional vernacular style are purchased, taken down, transported and reconstructed by artisans (Stapathis) of the regions from where the houses came
It has the traditional Handlooms, replicas of the Four South Indian State models of houses. Silk Weavers and other craftsmen demonstrate their skill and dexterity of their domain. Live demonstrations by the artisans thrill the visitors.







Dr. Deborah Thiagarajan, an Indian art historian of American origin, founded an NGO, the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF) in 1984 to govern the museum. It is built on 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land taken on a 33-year lease from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The museum, developed as a heritage village, has an array of displays depicting the unique life pattern of Indians in the states of South India.
History
DakshinaChitra, "meaning a picture of the south", was founded by the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF), an NGO started in 1984, by Dr. Deborah Thiagarajan. Thiagarajan, an Indian art historian of American origin, had come to Madras (now Chennai) in 1970 and visited several rural villages in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. She founded the MCF in 1984 with the intent of preserving the regional culture and heritage. Six years later, in July 1991, the MCF received 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land for the project from the Government of Tamil Nadu on a 33-year lease.
The museum had also received grants from various governmental ministries and organizations such as the Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Culture and the Ford Foundation. DakshinaChitra was formally opened for public viewing on 14 December 1996.








British-born Indian architect Laurie Baker volunteered his services with the spatial conceptualizing of the layout of the museum with special emphasis on giving the artisans free space in building it. Benny Kuriakose, an assistant of Baker's, designed the public buildings and was responsible for the re-creation, conservation, and supervision of the heritage house buildings.
Features
DakshinaChitra is a heritage village where the unique lifestyle of South Indians is revived based on their states. The center occupies ten undulating acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, 25 kilometers (16 mi) south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road to MamallapuramTamil Nadu, India.
The museum showcases 18 heritage houses representing the living styles of people from the states of South India such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra PradeshNorth KarnatakaKerala and Telangana. These houses are recreated by a team of architecture students, carpenters and workers who set about measuring, photographing and carefully dismantling the house; original houses which were allowed to be demolished by the original owners in their villages/towns.







The original houses in their "vernacular style" were purchased by MCF (purchase costs varied from Rs. 50,000 for ordinary mud houses to Rs. 1.5 million for the Chettinad Merchant’s mansions with crafted doors and woodwork) and then demolished systematically under the guidance of Stapathis (temple architects) of the particular villages for recreation in its exact original form at the museum by the same architect. 
The houses are said to represent mostly the Chettiar themes of the Nattukkottai Chettiars who have been in the forefront of conservation and restoration and renovation of public edifices. This has been a view in some circles, particularly on the aspect of replication of per-industrial rural life and it represents "American Consumerism".
The artifacts in the museum reflect the daily life in the Southern States. As of 2014, there were 4,220 artifacts on display; 3,200 are art related, 950 are clothing (typical South Indian attire of females and males in cotton and silk fabrics and furnishings) and 70 pertain to contemporary aspects.





The museum has a collection of books and journals pertaining to the arts, crafts, performance, anthropology and folklore of South India, apart from 1,000,000 pictures. The entire display and presentation is in the English language, and highlights the cultural aspects of the high status of Brahminical people. The heritage homes are informative and educative as one can learn the art and craft traditions of South India.
There is a center for living traditions of art, folk performing arts, and crafts set up with the objective of preserving and promoting the rich heritage and culture of South India. Conceptualizing South Indian heritage homes set in folk art tradition, special programmes of dances, crafting of necklaces, basket weaving, puppet shows and so forth are organized here. Every year 15,000 school children visit the museum. The museum also holds workshops for training in traditional crafts such as indigo dying. Potters trained at this center are issued a certificate of their upgraded skills by the regional office of the Department of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).




In the large open air theater or an amphitheater here, cultural programmes such as classical dances Bharatnatyam, Mohiniyatam and Kuchipudi, and also music concerts are a regular feature.
Facilities
The museum has a research unit, a craft bazaar, a play ground, an area to hold religious functions, stone workshop, and souvenir kiosks. The craftsmen demonstrate or explain how they make their wares.
Important Info
Entry Fee
Holiday
Indians Rs. 50/-
Student Rs. 25/-
Foreigners Rs.175/-
Foreign Student Rs. 70/-
Tuesday
Getting Here: East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Chengalpet District – 600 118.
Land Mark: Next to MGM Dizee World & Next to Sangeetha Hotel
Phone: 044 27472603 / 044 27472783 / 044-24918943
Timings: 10am to 6 pm.
Weekly holiday: Tuesday (open on all national holidays except on Diwali day)
Bus Numbers: 19, PP19, PP49. Any call taxi or private taxi can be hired & Nearest Bus stop - MGM Dizzee world & it is located 200 meters from MGM Dizzee world.
Note: Eatables not permitted to be brought inside the museum. Space provided beside the parking area to eat food.