Chhattisgarh Handicrafts

Chhattisgarh, a state of India, is famous for its distinctive variety of arts and crafts. It represents the simplicity and traditional aspect of the state and its people. The fascinating varieties of handicrafts of Chhattisgarh are proof of the elaborate work of the people of this state. The handicraft work of Chhattisgarh is an indispensable part of the lives of people. It is also associated with the accessibility of wealth in the state. The hand printing of Chattisgarh is famous in the whole of India. 

It is usually performed with the natural vegetable dye extracted from ail that is found in the forest of Bastar. The reserves of natural resources are used by the people of Chhattisgarh to the most advantageous potential. The crafts of Chhattisgarh justly represent the hand skill of its artisans. Chhattisgarh is famous for metal crafts, paintings and handmade jewellery. The people of Chhattisgarh have skilled themselves in the production of these wonderful craft items. 

Famous Handicrafts of Chhattisgarh

Some of the famous Handicrafts of Chhattisgarh are as follows.

• Bell Metal or Dhokra 

Bell metal craft Chhattisgarh is also known as Dhokra. There are two districts of Chhattisgarh that are famous for the Bell metal craft with bronze and brass i.e.  Raigarh and Bastar. Different tribes of these districts are involved in metal crafting. This is designed with hollow casting and lost wax technique. 

(image will be uploaded soon)

• Wrought Iron or Loha Shilp

Loha Shilp is a handicraft where raw forms of metal figurines or artefacts are designed.  The raw material used in this type of craft is frequently recycled scrap iron. Artistic things such as toys, stands, figurines, deities and lampstands are the different products made of this craft.

• Terracotta

Terracotta has found a place in Chattisgarh artistic culture. Terracotta is pottery that represents the cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh state. It represents the emotions, rituals and customs of the tribal life of Chhattisgarh.

(image will be uploaded soon)

• Wooden Craft 

Woodcraft is called Kastha Shilp in Chhattisgarh. People of Chhattisgarh use wood for designing many things. The Badhais tribe of this state has gained expertise in the wooden craft. 

• Godna

The most groundbreaking art form of Chattisgarh is Godna. It is presently practised by a handful of women in the Jamgala district of Chhattisgarh. Women paint traditional tattoo motifs on textiles. They make use of natural colours. The colour is collected from the forest then merged with acrylic paint to craft it more constant on fabric.

• Tumba

Tumba is not a well-recognized craft of Chattisgarh, but it is popularly made in the Bastar region.  It is made from the use of hollow gourd shells. Tribal people employ them as containers to accumulate water.

(image will be uploaded soon)

• Cotton Fabrics

Cotton Fabrics are one of the popular handicrafts made by tribals of Chhattisgarh. It is a weaving of Kosa thread that comes from a type of worm especially found in the forests of Chhattisgarh. It is printed by hand and hand-woven by tribes who sketch their lineage to the 14th-century weaver or saint-poet Kabir.Hand printing is usually done with natural vegetable dye extracted from all that is found in Chhattisgarh forests.

(image will be uploaded soon)

• Bamboo Craft

The Bamboo crafts works are an ordinary sight in the State, and Chhattisgarh tribals have been putting their craftsmanship to work. The Bamboo crafts are used for the purpose of decorations as well as daily use. Some of the popular Bamboo things produce baskets, fishing traps, hunting tools, and agricultural implements.

(image will be uploaded soon)

• Wood Carving

Wooden craft or carving has been growing in Chhattisgarh from ancient times. One can discover delightfully carved wooden kinds of stuff designed by craftsmen. The designers are using a different variety of wood such as sal, kikar, teak, shisham, and dhudi. The craftsmen also design masks, pipes, doors, sculptures and window frames.

• Wall Paintings

The wall paintings of Chattisgarh are related to traditional rituals. Floors and walls of houses are painted with beautiful colours. Pithora paintings are a common traditional art style of wall painting in this state. The origin of this painting is related to the tribal area of Central India that is presently Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. This painting depicts the offering to gods. The tribal people paint their walls of houses through these paintings on the occasion of marriages, childbirth and other occasions of the fulfilment of wishes etc. The majority of these paintings have a horse, as it is considered auspicious to sacrifice a horse. Pithora paintings can be seen in most of the houses in Chhattisgarh tribes. They are colourful and made from natural colours.

(image will be uploaded soon)

Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board

Handicraft has always been skilful and integral part of the culture of India, and this is a tradition of the people. The Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board was established in the year 2001. The Government of Chhattisgarh is performing all operations of this board. The Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board is creating new opportunities for employment for the people of the state. It provides support to the various activities of handicrafts in the state. The Board has the aim of attaining all-around development in the domain of Chattisgarh handicrafts. It is also reviving the vanishing crafts by marketing them strategically so that there will be constant progress in the positioning of handicrafts in the global market.

The Objective of the Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board

The objectives of the Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board are as follows.

• The main objective of the Board is to achieve all-around development in the field of Chhattisgarh handicrafts. There are some handicrafts that vanish with the passage of time; the board is targeting to revive them again. 

• The board is performing all the possible work to preserve and enrich the ancient and world-famous heritage of the State of Chhattisgarh of the handicrafts.

• One of the main aims is to generate employment through the field of Handicrafts by providing professional training to the traditional, non-traditional artisans and also to the unemployed youth of the State.

• Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board focuses on providing skill development training and new designs as per the market trends.

• A large portion of Chattisgarh is living in rural areas. Hence the board is creating an avenue of employment and income for rural artisans of the state.

• It is following a marketing strategy that is helpful for the sales of handicrafts. The Board is marketing the Handicrafts of the state at National and International markets.

• It encourages and inviting private entrepreneurs to invest and generate employment in the field of handicrafts.

Do You Know?

One of the earliest discovered lost wax artefacts is the dancing girl of Mohenjo-Daro.

Conclusion

Chattisgarh is developing through these traditional handicrafts. The government is also helping the people of Chhattisgarh by providing their handicrafts with a better market. Different traditional techniques of crafting are used to construct handicrafts such as bamboo work, wood carvings, bell metal handicrafts, handmade jewellery, terracotta, clay pieces, and paintings etc. These are some of the specialities from Chhattisgarh.