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As rural communities pursue development, it is vital they safeguard cultural identities and collective memory.

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Cultural heritage represents a tangible connection to a community’s history embodying the values, traditions and creative expressions that have shaped it for generations. Both a source of pride and inspiration, tangible and intangible cultural heritage are resources for education, innovation and economic growth through tourism and cultural industries. It is critical to preserve the collective wisdom embedded in traditional practices, historical structures and art forms to equip current and future generations with a foundation to navigate an ever-evolving world. 

Restoring the Bharateshwar Temple

Documentation of Cultural Objects

Craft Interventions

Creative Exchanges: Artists & Artisans

  • ART & CRAFT

Craft Interventions

Artisans engaged in bamboo basketry

Bamboo basketry craft

Local pottery craft pasted down through generations

Earthenware pots

Earthenware artefacts

Pithora folk art

The region of Kathiwada is known to have several native art and craft forms such as bamboo basketry, bead craft, pottery, pithora, bagh block printing and other forms of folk art. 

As a patron of the arts and crafts, Sangita Devi Kathiwada has carried out several interventions through the years with the craftspeople exposing them to new techniques and collaborations with people from urban spaces and international artists.

  • CROSS-COLLABORATION
  • ART & CRAFT

Creative Exchanges: Artists & Artisans

We facilitate collaborations between urban artists and local artisans. Previously, we have organised creative exchanges around Bagh hand block printing, bamboo crafts, pottery, Pithora painting and Kasota weaving. These interactions showed us both artists and artisans were enriched when contemporary perspectives met traditional craftsmanship.

We piloted a residency program between Marina Munoz and traditional potters of Kathiwada, showcasing the possibilities of cultural innovation from the intersection of artistry and heritage. We will be formalising the program with plans for a dedicated artist residency program in Kathiwada.

  • HERITAGE CONSERVATION
  • ART & CRAFT

Documentation of Cultural Objects

The House of Kathiwada has undertaken the documentation of culturally significant art and craft objects from Kathiwada and the wider region. 

The aim is to document and showcase them to the public in a museum for local and outsiders to be exposed to the rich traditions of the region, carrying their stories and heritage forward.

  • HERITAGE CONSERVATION

Restoring the Bharateshwar Temple: Preserving Faith and Legacy

Before restoration

After restoration

Perched atop the Ratanmahal hill range, a two-hour hike from the Kathiwada plateau, the Bharateshwar Temple holds cultural and spiritual significance for the entire local community. Built in 1962 by Ranisaheb Dharmendra Kumari of Kathiwada to fulfill a sacred vow, the temple is a testament to faith and devotion. To celebrate the birth of Yuvraj Bharat Sinh Kathiwada, she pledged to fast and construct a temple dedicated to Bharateshwar, a deity revered by tribals and villagers alike.

Over the decades, the temple weathered time, falling into disrepair. Recognizing its importance as a site of worship and a symbol of shared heritage, Rana Digvijay Sinh Kathiwada and Rani Swati Sinh Kathiwada undertook its restoration in 2023. Their efforts have not only revived the temple’s structure but also its role as a spiritual center for the community.

Artisans engaged in bamboo basketry

Bamboo basketry craft

Local pottery craft pasted down through generations

Earthenware pots

Earthenware artefacts

Pithora folk art

  • ART & CRAFT

Craft Interventions

The region of Kathiwada is known to have several native art and craft forms such as bamboo basketry, bead craft, pottery, pithora, bagh block printing and other forms of folk art. 

As a patron of the arts and crafts, Sangita Devi Kathiwada has carried out several interventions through the years with the craftspeople exposing them to new techniques and collaborations with people from urban spaces and international artists.

  • CROSS-COLLABORATION
  • ART & CRAFT

Creative Exchanges: Artists & Artisans

We facilitate collaborations between urban artists and local artisans. Previously, we have organised creative exchanges around Bagh hand block printing, bamboo crafts, pottery, Pithora painting and Kasota weaving. These interactions showed us both artists and artisans were enriched when contemporary perspectives met traditional craftsmanship.

We piloted a residency program between Marina Munoz and traditional potters of Kathiwada, showcasing the possibilities of cultural innovation from the intersection of artistry and heritage. We will be formalising the program with plans for a dedicated artist residency program in Kathiwada.

  • HERITAGE CONSERVATION
  • ART & CRAFT

Documentation of Cultural Objects

The House of Kathiwada has undertaken the documentation of culturally significant art and craft objects from Kathiwada and the wider region. 

The aim is to document and showcase them to the public in a museum for local and outsiders to be exposed to the rich traditions of the region, carrying their stories and heritage forward.

Before renovation

After renovation

  • HERITAGE CONSERVATION

Restoring the Bharateshwar Temple: Preserving Faith and Legacy

Perched atop the Ratanmahal hill range, a two-hour hike from the Kathiwada plateau, the Bharateshwar Temple holds cultural and spiritual significance for the entire local community. Built in 1962 by Ranisaheb Dharmendra Kumari of Kathiwada to fulfill a sacred vow, the temple is a testament to faith and devotion. To celebrate the birth of Yuvraj Bharat Sinh Kathiwada, she pledged to fast and construct a temple dedicated to Bharateshwar, a deity revered by tribals and villagers alike.

Over the decades, the temple weathered time, falling into disrepair. Recognizing its importance as a site of worship and a symbol of shared heritage, Rana Digvijay Sinh Kathiwada and Rani Swati Sinh Kathiwada undertook its restoration in 2023. Their efforts have not only revived the temple’s structure but also its role as a spiritual center for the community.

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Real, lasting change takes collaboration, commitment, and a shared vision. At Kathiwada Foundation, we are  dedicated to long-term initiatives that uplift communities and reshape futures. But we can’t do it alone.

Whether you’re passionate about volunteering, eager to collaborate, or ready to contribute, there’s a place for you in our mission. We work side by side with individuals and experts, engaging with communities and stakeholders to drive meaningful change from the ground up.

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Kathiwada Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the house of Kathiwada. We focus on building rural resilience within our region piloting models of change that, if successful, can be replicated to benefit broader communities.

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