Handicrafts

Saraikela, a new born district of Jharkhand is situated 45 km south west of Jamshedpur, on the bank of Kharkai river surrounded by small hills and dense forests. The place is popular for its traditional "Chau Dance" and paper machi, a form of traditional handicrafts. Handicraft population here earn their livelihood mainly through cultivation and these handicrafts.

Palm trees are found in abundance in these parts of Indian Subcontinent. They make an important source of livelihood for these Handicrafts also. In fact, Palm leaves and Kanshi Grass (a locally found grass in these parts of Jharkhand) are two of the most important Non Timber Products in these area. These two raw materials are used to make trendy, cheap, Eco-Friendly, ethnic and traditional looking handicraft items, viz., bags, purses, fashion accessories, etc.

The dhokra figures of Khunti distt. near Ranchi present a true account of the Handicraft life in the region in a very delicate manner. Dhokra craft is a hereditary art which is practised on old craft dictions and imagination of crafts persons. It is a primitive art form of Jharkhand associated with the Handicraft culture of the region. These items are manufactured by a process called the "lost-wax" me thod. These creations have undergone twelve stages of work before taking its final shape. The figures are first prepared in wax with a clay base. After they are created, they are heated in the furnace. This results in the melting of the wax thereby creating a cavity. Then molten brass is poured into the cavity to take shape. Finally the clay is removed and the items are polished. The Dhokra craft in Khunti region of Jharkhand stands at a critical point, as it is on the verge of extinction, because the craft families are migrating to more profitable work options. The workshop is an attempt to revive the craft and make the craft persons self sufficient.

Handloom weaving in Jharkhand by aparticular casre is not merely an occupation but their way of llife. They have their own pattern of design with different colour combinatioin by the out dated looms. However, for the purpose of commercial use these designs and pattern modification and further development is necessary so that it could meet the requirement of recent market trends.

Weaving and hand embroidery in Jharkhand has no unique identity, as one sees with Bihar, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and in the states of Southern India which have their unique fabric and hand emroidery of their own. This is due to lage influx of migratory people staying in Jharkhand. Several workshops were organised bu Ambalika to make craftpersons aware of the important of having a unique identity in their craft.

Ambalika organize training for upgradation of skills so that sustainable employement of weavers could be possible. this will undoubtedly solve the problem saved by the state to a large extent. Ambalika plans to develop a new style of fabric to a be known as Santha (name derived from Santhal a tribe found in Jharkhand famous for its rich culture)