Craft. Design. Lives
Of Roots and Rest
A Tribute in Colour – Homage to S.H. Raza
Goonj & Jugalbandi – A Dialogue in Art
Queens of Mandla – Murals of Valor & Legacy
Where trains meet tradition:
Mandla Station Gets a Makeover with Help from Local Artisans
Echoes of Mandla- ceramic mosaic
Ceiling of Craft – Wooden Legacy from Mandla
Located near Jabalpur in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Mandla is surrounded on three sides by the Narmada River and known for its rich heritage and proximity to Kanha National Park, one of India’s largest tiger reserves.
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Home to tribal communities like the Gond, Baiga, and Oraon, Mandla is celebrated for its unique art and cultural traditions. In honour of this legacy, the Mandla Railway Station has undergone a vibrant makeover led by local artisans.
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Blending traditional tribal art with modern infrastructure, the revamped station now stands as a cultural landmark—welcoming travelers while preserving and promoting the region’s artistic identity.
Queens of Mandla – Murals of Valor & Legacy
Concourse Area, Mandla Fort Railway Station
Mandla Railway Station now echoes the grandeur of its historic fort, with murals honoring queens Rani Durgavati and Rani Avanti Bai. Depicting scenes of Mandla Fort, ancient temples, and Sahastradhara waterfall, the artworks blend Gond patterns with rich visuals celebrating the queens' bravery and legacy. Created in two phases, composed by contemporary artist Reena Naik and detailed by Gond artisan Sukhiram Maravi, the murals beautifully merge history with tribal art.
Echoes of Mandla-
Ceramic mosaic
Compound Wall Leading to the Railway Station Gate and Wall Overlooking the Platform
The compound wall is a vibrant tapestry in ceramic tile mosaics as geometric forms, rhythmic patterns, and symbolic depth, in bold shapes and vivid color.
Crafted by over ten skilled karigars, the mosaic brings contemporary energy to traditional forms, adding a sense of grandeur to the cultural fabric of Mandla.
Of Roots and Rest – Lantana Craft
Front Lawn, Mandla Fort Railway Station
As visitors enter the fort-inspired Mandla Railway Station, they are welcomed by a serene front lawn that reflects the region’s deep connection to nature and craft. Honouring Asia’s largest living Eucalyptus tree, the lawn features eight handcrafted lantana chairs made by local artisans using bark from the surrounding forests. At its heart stands a striking banyan tree installation, also made of lantana, with a traditional seating platform beneath. Developed through a 15-day collaboration with over 15 artisans, the structure symbolizes shelter, community, and Mandla’s creative spirit.
Ceiling of Craft :
Wooden Legacy from Mandla
Concourse Area & Ticket Counter, Mandla Fort Railway Station
Inspired by Mandla’s rich wood carving tradition, the station’s concourse now features hand-carved teakwood ceiling panels with geometric and nature-based motifs, creating a warm, elegant space. The carved ceiling highlights the ticketing area, while teakwood-framed windows along the platform add detail and depth. Each element reflects the legacy of local artisans, turning the station into a tribute to Mandla’s timeless craftsmanship.
Goonj – A Dialogue in Art
VIP Room, Mandla Fort Railway Station
This Gond piece done by Choti, of a lush and bountiful tree, alive with birds and bird chatter, is a classic representation of mother nature in its full glory. Farhat's concept was to create the effect of a 'close up' of the Gond piece, while still adhering to the form and colours of the bird, leaves and the tree form. A curtain of overlapping leaves forms the background, on which a single bird is placed at a diagonal, which complements the centrally aligned form of the full tree of the Gond piece. It is called, 'Goonj' where the nature of the traditional art form is echoed in the contemporary piece.
Jugalbandi – A Dialogue in Art
VIP Room, Mandla Fort Railway Station
The concept was to crystallize the main elements of Choti's piece and to present them in a modern and contemporary light with influences of Farhat’s own style of work, so that both the pieces would reflect off of each other to create a 'Jugal Bandi' The eye of the peacock took center
stage, to denote the animal spirit. The criss-crossnig of the bark in Choti's piece was another vital element which was included to form a strong focal point in the layout and all the various textures in the body of the peacock and bark were strategically placed in vertical and horizontal planes to bring forth a contemporary feel to the piece.
At EkiBeki, we believe in the power of traditional Indian crafts to tell stories, preserve culture, and transform lives.
EkiBeki is an equal opportunity employer, our team is a mosaic of talents that bring together different backgrounds and expertise, diverse locations and ages. All dedicated to the cause of sustaining Indian traditional artforms and supporting artisans in their livelihoods.
This is an EkiBeki project
Who are we
EkiBeki is a Not for profit focused on identification of dying crafts and undertaking initiatives for their development and sustenance
