Dhokra and woodcraft of Jharkhand
Dhokra and woodcraft of Jharkhand
Dokra art is a traditional art of Jharkhand. It is also practiced in the neighboring states sharing common political boundaries and similar cultures. It is basically a brass work (Metal Craft) done by the Malhore castes of the state.
Brass is a combination of copper and bronze. The artisans of Jharkhand practice the traditional “Lost Wax Technique” to craft their immigrations. The craft is described by its primitive simplicity, rustic beauty, and imaginative designs and patterns. The products are handcrafted and may have slight inconsistencies that are a natural outcome of human involvement in the process.
Metal-casting is done by the community malhores who move from place to place collecting old brass scrap and casting images of gods and goddesses and other items such as diyas, anklets, and bells worn by tribals. These metal smiths not only make vessels but also tools for other artisans. The tribal communities engaged in blacksmith in the Chhota Nagpur area are the Asur Birja tribals, who are said to be the oldest inhabitants of the area. Isolated from modern influences they continue to fashion folk deities and other articles that draw their inspiration from nature. They obtain the raw material from smelting ore taken from the hills or from melting scrap.
The Asurs supply the tools needed for hunting, house construction, and cultivation. The shaping is done by hammering the sheet metal or ingot while heating or by pouring into clay or wax molds. They use brass, an alloy of zinc and copper, and panchdhatu (five elements), an alloy of copper, zinc, gold, silver, and lead, along with bell-metal, an alloy of tin and copper which has a soft tint of old gold. Two distinct types of products made in brassware and bell-metal these days are cast pots and bowls with the lower half black or natural dark color, and dhokra articles, mostly figures of riders and elephants, (candle stands), and the fish type of sindhurdan (vermilion box) made by the cire perdue or lost wax process. The flexible brass and silver fish made by a goldsmith community concentrated at Haveli Kharagpur in Monghyr district deserves special mention.
The government has planned to conserve this tradition and in order to save this tradition, the government organizes different exhibitions throughout India not only this save the Indian tradition and culture but also to provide a large number of employees.
Dhokra art is not an easy art rather it requires a lot of time, and after lots of hard work the final look of the dhokra art is achieved, and then the prices are fixed accordingly. Therefore, customers should not bargain much as the makers earn only for livelihood through that. You can also buy Dhokra products from Jharcraft.
Woodcraft
Thanks to a rich forest cover, Jharkhand has an abundance of wood, which is used by people of various tribal groups to make household articles. Some of the exquisite items tourists can buy include wall hangings, key hangers, fruit baskets, utensils, candle stands, flower vases, pen stands, and toys. The locals also use wood to make windows, doors, boxes, and wooden spoons. The intricately carved designs and patterns of the articles represent the rich tribal heritage of Jharkhand that makes them a great choice for home decor. The tribal communities have great respect for trees, which is why they use only the branches to create artifacts rather than cutting down the entire tree.
Mainly dominated by the tribal art the crafts of Jharkhand reflect the color of the state. The handicrafts of this young tribal state are mainly made from naturally available resources and serve the purpose of daily utility. Wood crafts of Jharkhand also include a wide collection of aesthetically carved decorative items. Woodcraft is mostly concentrated in the hilly areas of the state.
Cane and Bamboo Craft
Jharkhand is a natural reservoir of Bamboo and cane. Since the ancient period, bamboo is being used to make day-to-day products like baskets, vases, tokri, and other handicrafts. Bamboos are also used in making tools like hunting equipment and fishing gear. The craft has evolved with time giving way to modern furniture and even incense sticks made of bamboo and cane. Cane furniture is most popular in the Hazaribagh district of the state and is also exported abroad.
By purchasing these locally manufactured goods, you can support artisans and improve their quality of life.
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