At the IIJS Bharat Signature theme, the Crafts Pavilion in BEC focused on the country’s masterful craft traditions and how they continue to shape modern jewellery design. In the fourth and the last of our series, we turn our spotlight to Hupari, a town in Maharashtra renowned for its silver ornaments, especially its iconic anklets. The GI tag for Hupari Silver Craft was secured by the Chandi Karkhandar Association, Hupari, representing the town’s traditional silver artisans. The process was facilitated by NABARD, Maharashtra, helping formalise recognition and protect the craft’s regional identity.
What sets Hupari apart is its deeply personal, home-led production ecosystem. Silver jewellery is crafted within homes, where generations of artisan families work together. From melting and drawing silver wire to shaping, soldering, assembling and polishing, every step is done by hand. Women play a vital role in assembling and finishing, while men typically handle structural work and trade, making the craft both inclusive and community driven.
Hupari’s artisans are celebrated for their precision and patience. A single pair of anklets can take hours or even days to complete, depending on the complexity of the design. The signature sound of Hupari anklets—created by carefully joined silver beads and links—is as important as the visual beauty, making each piece a complete sensory experience.
Today, Hupari supports around 2,500 small workshops across surrounding villages, engaging an estimated 40,000 artisans. This thriving ecosystem provides a livelihood for close to 100,000 people, forming the undeniable economic backbone of the region.
The craft’s cultural significance has earned Hupari silver jewellery a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. While firmly rooted in tradition, the craft continues to evolve as artisans are adapting designs for modern lifestyles, creating lighter, more versatile pieces while retaining time-honoured skills. At trade shows and global platforms, Hupari represents more than silver jewellery—it stands for living heritage, human skill and a legacy that continues to shine through artisanal skills.