Jharkhand originally a tribal state is known for its wood work, bamboo
works, pitkar paintings, tribal ornaments
and stone carving. The beautifully carved
wood products and bamboo products show the
craftsmanship of the people. Lack of promotion
and marketing for these products has mostly
resulted in extinction of some crafts like
paitkar paintings and stone carvings.
Wood Craft
Once a dense forest area, Jharkhand with
the abundance of wood, resulted in the use
this for creating variety of wood articles
for household requirements. The artisans
of the region were involved in beautifully
designing different articles of household
use. These include door panels, boxes and
windows besides wooden spoons etc. These
carved and designed articles are beautiful
and has good market both in India and abroad.
Bamboo The bamboos found in the Jharkhand forest
are thin but flexible and strong. Using
these, the artisans of Jharkhand produce
different artifacts like basket, haunting
and fishing equipment.
Paitkar Paintings
One of the oldest tribal paintings in India,
these are also called scroll paintings due
to its appearance, depicts life after death.
This form of painting is in the process
of extinction due to lack of funds for promoting
it.
Metal Work
The Malhar and Tentri communities in the
State are experts in the metal crafts and
make household wares.
Stone CarvingAnother traditional craft of the tribes
in the area is stone carving but it is also
in the process of extinction. Only few stone
carvers are left with the knowledge and
they are also not doing it as it does not
generate any revenue.
Ornaments
The tribals in Jharkhand region are found
of ornaments and artisans of the region
make simple ornaments using gold, silver
or beeds. These ornaments are simple but
depicts the traditional culture of the region.
Toy Making
In the hilly regions of Jharkhand and around
its capital city Ranchi, there dwell families
who, for generations have reveled in toy
making. Their wooden cut outs, glossed with
an eye-catching canary paint depict the
nature around. Of course the sizes are miniaturized
for they are really playthings for children
that have wheels for mobility or detachable
limbs that allow free acrobatics manipulated
by the pulling of string. These agile puppets
are usually made from palm leaf slivers
painted with pink dots and finger paintings,
giving the right accents to a day of fun
and frolic.
The love of the people of Jharkhand for
the grand weddings and their accompanying
fanfare is reflected in the toys also. The
toy traders recreate the wedding of Lord
Rama or the elephant god Ganesha in the
toys. The lord as a groom is draped in a
canary yellow lower garment or dhoti, the
typical wedding finery for a bridegroom.
The tinges of gold on the garment and the
veiled face of the toy bride complete the
ambience. Of the scenes of nature nothing
pleases these craftsmen more than the sight
of a flock of brilliant parakeets in paddy
green feathers. The contrasting red of the
beak is a bonus that few can overlook. But
the bird is not a boring depiction of its
realistic form. Only the colors of the bird
are copied and then re-designed in folk
art forms of well- defined lines and frozen
posture forms.
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