Sikri Handicrafts

Out here in Fatehpur Sikri, things move a bit slower than in the big cities. We’ve been running this little handicraft spot for quite a while. Most of what we do is small items made from stone or wood that people can take home with them. It’s a family thing, really. My cousins and I are usually out back working on the new batches. The sun can be pretty rough during the afternoon, so we try to get most of the heavy carving done early in the morning. You’ll see plenty of dust on our shoes and hands. We don't use any fancy factory equipment. It's all about the hand tools and taking the time to see what the material wants to become. Sometimes we get travelers stopping by who want to see how the work is actually done. We don't mind that at all. It’s nice to show people the process, even if the workshop is a bit of a disaster area most days. We have shelves filled with finished pieces, but things move out pretty fast. It’s not about making a million of the same thing. Every piece has a tiny difference because a person made it, not a machine. We like it that way. If you’re wandering around Sikri, you might find us just by following the sound of wood being sanded or stone being tapped. It’s just what we do to get by and keep the tradition going in our own small way.