The word ‘Kalamkari’ emerged from the Persian words Qulam (pen) and Kari (craftmanship).  The process involves mainly painting natural dyes on fabrics like silk or cotton with the help of a 'kalam' or a bamboo pen. This exquisite art form is very much prominent in Andhra Pradesh. There are mainly two varieties of styles – Srikalahasti style and Machilipatnam style. The theme is mainly surrounded by the epics of Puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.