*🛡️Kalamkari Paintings* ♟️The name comes from kalam, i.e. a pen, which is used to paint these exquisite paintings. ♟️The pen used is made of sharp pointed bamboo, used to regulate the flow of colours. The base is cotton fabric while the colours used are vegetable dyes. ♟️The pen is soaked in a mixture of fermented jaggery and water; one by one these are applied and thereafter, the vegetable dyes are applied ♟️The main centers for this art are Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam in the State of Andhra Pradesh. ♟️The images are drawn free hand and the inspiration comes from Hindu mythology. ♟️Textiles with handwork are also produced here. Kalamkari painting had its existence even during Vijayanagara empire ♟️It has received GI status.