Jali or fretwork is intricately carved on soft stone and its process requires supreme mastery of masonry and design making. The Varanasi soft stone jali work epitomizes both high skill and a superior quality of craftsmanship. Delicately chiseled and decorated with inlay work these elaborately carved jalis demand time in their making along with the skill and creativity of the masters. In Varanasi the jali craft work can be seen on forts, zamindari homes, places of worship and ancient monuments all of which are a testimony to its antiquity. Statues of religious significance are also made using this technique. To further enhance the beauty of these sculptures they would be embedded with semi-precious stones and shell-work. Today small items of utility and decor are also produced such as table tops, boxes, coasters, trays, etc. Given their small size and the intricate work of jali making the Varanasi soft stone craft remains a skill of the masters.
