Metal casting in Uttar Pradesh is a traditional craft technique that involves pouring molten metal into molds to create intricate and often ornamental objects ranging from utilitarian wares to religious sculptures and ritual artifacts. Practiced notably in cities such as Moradabad, Varanasi, and Aligarh, this craft uses a range of metals-brass, bronze, aluminum, and copper alloys-and techniques like sand casting, lost-wax casting, and die casting.

Moradabad, often called the "Brass City of India", is globally renowned for its hand-cast brassware including trays, urns, lamps, and inlayed home décor. Varanasi excels in bronze idol casting, particularly of Hindu deities, made following Shilpa Shastra guidelines. In Aligarh, the tradition leans towards producing locks and utilitarian items using both traditional and semi-industrial methods.

The casting process involves designing, mold preparation, heating the metal, and finally finishing through engraving, polishing, or inlaying with silver or enamel. The artistry lies not just in form but also in surface treatment—floral chasing, Meenakari enamel, or jali cutwork are common enhancements.

Metal casting in Uttar Pradesh has deep historical roots—dating back to the Gupta and Mauryan periods, when bronze idols and ritual objects were cast using the lost-wax method (Madhuchistha Vidhana). The craft flourished under Mughal patronage, particularly in Moradabad, which became a major export center for Indo-Islamic decorative brassware by the 19th century.

Many families in Moradabad belong to hereditary artisan lineages such as Thatheras and Kansaris, who have preserved metal knowledge over centuries. Varanasi's idol-makers continue to follow millennia-old sculptural norms, considering the act of casting as sacred ritual, especially in the making of Panchaloha (five-metal alloy) murtis.

Metal casting from Uttar Pradesh has received Geographical Indication (GI) tags, including Moradabad Metal Craft, helping to safeguard the regional identity and traditional skills of the artisans.

During the colonial era, Moradabad metal crafts found their way to international exhibitions, with notable showcases at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. British buyers commissioned bespoke chandeliers, plaques, and furniture accents-some of which still decorate royal estates in England.

In Aligarh, oral traditions speak of a master artisan whose custom cast locks—made for the Aligarh Muslim University’s heritage buildings-are still functional a century later. These locks are prized not just for durability but for their complex internal mechanisms.

Today, several master artisans, such as Padma Shri awardee Ram Soni, and collectives like the Moradabad Handicrafts Cluster, continue to innovate with eco-friendly casting techniques and design collaborations while retaining traditional motifs. Government training programs through the National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) are helping young artisans modernize tooling without compromising handcrafting values.

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