Rajasthan's tableau titled 'The Golden Touch of the Desert', presented by the Department of Art, Literature, and Culture, participated in the 77th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. The tableau was inspired by the centuries-old Usta (Ustad) art of Bikaner — a traditional craft renowned for its intricate gold inlay work on camel hide (leather), depicting scenes from Rajasthani royal courts, folk motifs, and desert landscapes. The Usta art form, named after the 'Ustad' (master craftsmen) community that has practised it for generations, is a Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged craft of Rajasthan. Artisans typically use gold leaf (varak) and natural pigments to create detailed miniature-style paintings on camel leather, wooden boxes, and lacquerware. The tableau drew widespread acclaim from viewers across India and later won the third position in the Popular Choice category of the nationwide public poll on the MyGov platform — with Gujarat winning first and Uttar Pradesh second. The participation underscored Rajasthan's effort to promote its artisan heritage on a national stage and generate awareness about GI-tagged craft traditions facing decline due to changing markets and dwindling master craftsmen.
Rajasthan Tableau 'The Golden Touch of the Desert' Showcasing Bikaner's Usta Art Participates in 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path
Rajasthan's tableau titled 'The Golden Touch of the Desert', presented by the Department of Art, Literature, and Culture, participated in the 77th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. The tableau was inspired by the centuries-old Usta (Ustad) art of Bikaner — a traditional craft renowned for its intricate gold inlay work on camel hide (leather), depicting scenes from Rajasthani royal courts, folk motifs, and desert landscapes. The Usta art form, named after the 'Ustad' (master craftsmen) community that has practised it for generations, is a Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged craft of Rajasthan. Artisans typically use gold leaf (varak) and natural pigments to create detailed miniature-style paintings on camel leather, wooden boxes, and lacquerware. The tableau drew widespread acclaim from viewers across India and later won the third position in the Popular Choice category of the nationwide public poll on the MyGov platform — with Gujarat winning first and Uttar Pradesh second. The participation underscored Rajasthan's effort to promote its artisan heritage on a national stage and generate awareness about GI-tagged craft traditions facing decline due to changing markets and dwindling master craftsmen.
Key facts
- Rajasthan's tableau 'The Golden Touch of the Desert' participated in the 77th Republic Day Parade.
- The tableau showcased Bikaner's centuries-old Usta art of gold inlay on camel hide.
- Usta art is a GI-tagged craft of Rajasthan practised by the 'Ustad' master craftsmen community.
- Artisans use gold leaf and natural pigments for miniature-style paintings on camel leather.
- The tableau won third position in the Popular Choice category on MyGov platform.
- Gujarat won first and Uttar Pradesh won second in the public poll.
Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the cultural significance of Rajasthan's 'Golden Touch of the Desert' tableau at the 77th Republic Day Parade and discuss the relevance of GI-tagging for preserving Bikaner's Usta art tradition.
Answer (50 words):
Rajasthan's tableau 'The Golden Touch of the Desert', presented by the Department of Art, Literature and Culture, participated in the 77th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2026, at Kartavya Path. It showcased Bikaner's Usta art — a GI-tagged gold-leaf inlay on camel leather — winning third in MyGov's Popular Choice category.
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Usta art, featured in Rajasthan's Republic Day 2026 tableau, is known for its distinctive gold inlay work on which material?
Usta art is a traditional craft of Bikaner renowned for its intricate gold inlay work on camel hide (leather), depicting scenes from Rajasthani royal courts and folk motifs.
Source: ProKerala / The Print / Bilkul Online / WebIndia123 / MyGov Blog
Frequently asked questions
What is Usta art and why is it associated with Bikaner?
Usta art is a centuries-old traditional craft of intricate gold inlay work (munawwat) on camel hide (leather), depicting scenes from Rajasthani royal courts, folk motifs, and desert landscapes. It is named after the 'Ustad' (master craftsmen) community that has practised this art for generations in Bikaner, Rajasthan. It is a GI-tagged craft, meaning it has Geographical Indication protection.
What was the theme of Rajasthan's tableau at the 77th Republic Day Parade?
Rajasthan's tableau at the 77th Republic Day Parade (January 26, 2026) was titled 'The Golden Touch of the Desert' and was presented by the Department of Art, Literature, and Culture. It showcased Bikaner's Usta art — the traditional craft of gold inlay on camel hide — highlighting Rajasthan's rich artistic heritage on the national stage.
What position did Rajasthan's tableau win in the MyGov Popular Choice poll?
Rajasthan's tableau 'The Golden Touch of the Desert' won third position in the Popular Choice category on the MyGov platform poll conducted during the 77th Republic Day celebrations. Gujarat's tableau won first place and Uttar Pradesh's won second place in the public voting.
What materials and techniques do Usta artisans use in their craft?
Usta artisans use gold leaf and natural pigments to create miniature-style paintings on camel leather (hide). The craft involves intricate munawwat (gold inlay) work, where fine gold is applied to depict royal court scenes, flora, fauna, and geometric patterns. The use of camel leather is distinctive to the Bikaner region, where camel rearing has been traditional for centuries.
What is a GI tag and why does Usta art hold this designation?
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputation due to that origin. Usta art holds a GI tag as it is uniquely associated with Bikaner, Rajasthan, and its distinctive techniques, materials (camel hide), and practitioner community (Ustad craftsmen) are inseparable from that geography.
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