The enhancing effulgence of colors and the characters that emerge on cotton fabric, help create a resplendent spread. Kalamkari art is unique in its use of color as a medium to portray mythological characters.

As the name suggests, Kalamkari is the art of painting cotton fabrics with a kalam i. e. pen, a sharp pointed pierced bamboo that regulates flow of color on the fabric. Kalamkari has a glorious history. The popularity of this exquisite form of art crossed the shores of the country during the 17th and 18 th centuries. Kalahasti and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the nerve centers of this art continue to be beehives of Kalamkari activity.

Kalamkari colors are made from vegetable dyes. In addition to themes from the epics, Kalamkari leitmotifs comprise different forms of the lotus flower, the cartwheel, parrots, an interlacing pattern of leaves and flowers.