Nirona

Nirona is a small village about 40 km from Bhuj, set in the flat, sparsely vegetated countryside of Kutch. It is known for keeping alive three old crafts, Rogan painting, copper bell making and lacquer work, each handed down within families over generations.

Rogan painting arrived from Iran around 300 years ago, and a single extended family in the village now practises it. The name comes from a Persian word for oil-based. Castor oil is heated for about 12 hours and dropped into cold water to form a sticky paste, which is mixed with stone pigments; artisans then draw designs on cloth with a six-inch metal stick, the tree of life being the best-known motif.