BANARAS GULABI MEENAKARI

Gulabi Meenakari is the art of coloring and ornamenting the surface of metals by fusing over it brilliant colors that are decorated in an intricate design.Mina is the feminine form of Minoo in Persian, meaning heaven. Mina refers to the Azure color of heaven. The Iranian craftsmen of Sasanied era invented this art and Mongols spread it to India and other countries.Meenakars belong to the Sonar or Sohail caste of Kshatriyas and identify themselves with the name of Meenakar or Verma. This is a hereditary craft and it is rare that outsiders are allowed to acquire any knowledge of their craft. The process followed is long drawn and complex in which a single piece of Meena may pass through many expert hands before being completed.