Dokra or Dhokra is a non-ferrous metal casting that has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still continuing. One of the earliest known lost wax artefacts is the dancing girl of Mohenjo-daro.
Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the tribal craft in a big way, especially those in rural tribal interiors. The artisans have been reeling under the Covid-19 crisis since its outbreak in 2020. To add to their woes, the second and the third waves of the Covid pandemic gave a devastating blow to thousands of artisans, workers and weavers across odisha, thus putting the livelihood of over 3000 odd workers depending on it at stake.
There was complete severance of the production to sales cycle, since most of their products belonged to the non-essential category and they were unable to sell them during the Covid induced lockdown.
‘Dokra’ or Dhokra is a typical tribal craft in bronze with its mesh-like features giving it a distinctive beauty. The socio-religious links to the Dhokra craft are strong in Hindu society, which dates back to the prehistoric times of the Harappa and Mohenjo-daro periods of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Notably, during different festivals like manobasa and laxmi puja, the Dokra materials are purchased and worshipped in the house.
Alluringly, the handicraft is still prepared by hand by village artisans of Odisha, without the involvement of any machines.
The products of Dhokra artisans are religious images, elephants, horses, peacocks, owls, lamps, bowls, which are very popular and in great demand in local markets as well as foreign markets.
As the pandemic period is nearing an end and life is returning to almost normal, Anwesha tribal arts and crafts have scaled up their production with the village artisans to knit up the lost period due to the pandemic.
Bhubaneswar-based Anwesha Tribal arts and crafts have put in their efforts to revive the state of doldrums, the crafts and lives of artisans involved in it. They are getting support from Delhi-based Artist Puneet Kaushik who has been working for 30 years on contemporary art.
Talking to India Today, A C Sahoo, President of Anwesh art and tribal crafts, said "We are working with 2000 artisans across Odisha, working on creating tribal bronze craft known as Dokra and tribal jewelers, helping them financially and improving their livelihood which was disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic."
Dhokra means casting of bell metal through a lost wax process. During the process, the vacuum created between the core and the clay layer is filled with molten metal, which is then allowed to cool down and solidify after it vaporizes. The outer clay mould is cracked open, revealing the beauty of the final sculpture.
This sort of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still continuing in tribal belts. One of the earliest known lost wax artefacts is the dancing girl of Mohenjo-daro, added Sahoo.
Dambarudhar Behera (Secretary) Anwesha Tribal Art and Crafts said that the traditional Dokla is created in Kuliana and Khunta in Mayurbhanj, Arakata in Nayagarh, narsinghpur and baragarhsingh in Cuttack, hijri and gadibuda in Rayagada and puttumgarh in Kandhamal district by Tribal artisans.
The price ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 5000.
Puneet Kaushik said, "I have been working with the local tribal artists for the last 30 years. My whole idea is to develop the indigenous techniques and the skills they have in a more contemporary manner, focusing on equitable working conditions, reviving traditional techniques through innovative materials and technology, sustainable production processes and above all, an effort to bring about a transition in the crafts sector in the Indian subcontinent."
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