• UGI USER
  • Dec 26, 2022
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Dhokra Art

Why in the News?

  • Lalbazaar village in West Bengal is an art hub and moving towards becoming a centre for dhokra art.

Dhokra Art

  • About:
    • It is a common metalcraft in Bengal.
    • An Age-Old Custom: Its recorded history dates back roughly 5,000 years.
    • No painting or polishing was applied to it when it was first made.
    • Most Dhokra relics are figurines of people or animals.
  • Complex Process: The process of creating dhokra art is challenging.
    • Making one figurine takes roughly a month.
    • There are numerous steps involved, and in addition to other raw materials, seven to eight different types of clay are needed.

  • West Bengal is home to two well-known locations for dhokra work: Bikna in Bankura and Dariyapur in Bardhaman.

Concerns:

  • Their products’ quality is getting worse.
  • the ongoing rise in raw material prices.
  • Production is delayed as a result of the outdated methods and restricted access to contemporary technology.
  • There is a great deal of polishing and colouring, which is absent from dhokra.

About Lalbazar

  • Also known as Khwaabgram (‘village of dreams’)
  • It is located about 4 km from Jhargram
  • Inhabited by members of the Lodha tribe, once outlawed by the British.

They mostly earn a living as labourers and small farmers.