The art of Kalamkari painting is one of the oldest traditional arts of India. Drawing upon a repertoire of well-loved epics for images, Kalamkari rich with colours and precise in detail unparalleled by other art form of this genre, an expert in the field discusses salient features of this little-known textile tradition and shows how this ancient textile craft, deeply rooted in religion, has adapted to social changes and political upheavals, evolving into a market craft that is also an indigenous folk art.