| Bamboo Products | ||
 History of Bamboo Products Since bamboo grows in abundance in the Tarai and Bhabhar areas, this is used extensively for making articles. Man oldest creation, grass mats, have been continuously used for praying, mediating as they are considered clean for religious purposes. Basketry is one of the very oldest of mans creations done by joining grass with grass and interlacing leaves, with the minimum of tools. Bamboo work is one of the most important crafts in Bihar. Here traditional designs and Japanese techniques have found a new synthesis in this craft. | ||
| Fine Art | ||
| Bhotiyas, the tribal from the Trans-Himalayan region are skilled bamboo artisans. Variety of baskets made by them for local consumption have now found an export market. Consequently non-tribals now take basket making as a profession also. The designs are generally simple plain weave or ribbed. Bamboo stems or culms with smaller diameters along with cane, are used in whole or split form for a variety of baskets, furniture, mats etc. Bamboo work is one of the most important crafts in Bihar. Bamboo lends itself to multifarious uses. The use of cut bamboo as a container to drink water is an ancient practice as also simple scoops for kitchen use. Large containers for storing grain are a common sight. | ||
| Procedure | ||
| Weaving, twining and coiling techniques are used for making baskets and mats. The production of reed and bamboo involves the cutting of whole stems with a hacksaw. It is then sliced into splits of various sizes using a bill-hook or dao. Slicing is done longitudinally along the length of the densely packed fibres .A fairly smooth operation is done to retain moisture in the culm. Kerosene lamp is used to heat the cane before it can be bent into purely by hand, occasionally using water to soften the splits. The production of cane and bamboo involves the cutting of whole stems with a hack-saw. It is then sliced into splits of various sizes using a bill hook or dao. Slicing is done longitudinally along the length of the densely packed fibres. Afairly smooth operation, is done to require the requisite amount of moisture in the culm. A kerosene lamp is used to heat the cane before it can be bent into shape. The weaving process is done by hand, sometimes using water to soften the splits. | ||
| Resources | ||
| Basic Material : Ringals- a local bamboo variety. Basic Material : Cane, bamboo, reed, grass. Decorative Material : Papers, shells. Colouring Material : Fabric colours. Basic Material : hacksaw, bill - hook or dao, cane, bamboo, kerosene lamp, grass, colours | ||
| Equipments | ||
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Knife, hammer, scissors, iron rods, fan.
Bill hook, hacksaw, kerosene lamp, mallet, mat loom | ||
| Artifacts | ||
| Moshtha (multi-purpose floor covering), containers of various shapes and sizes tray. Floor covering mats, door mats, boxes, baskets, vases, bags. baskets, handbags, lampshades, furniture, container for drinking water, container for storing grain, lamps, lanterns, travel kit, sarki, chiks, curtains, dali, basket, pahi, tahuki, tapi, ganja , fish catching design, dhaki , big-size basket , pathia, small sizebasket, medhadambara, umbrella made of bamboo sticks | ||
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