3029) Dokra Craft, West Bengal: West Bengal Postal Circle of India Post has issued a Special Cover (SC) from its Keshiakole Post Office: Date of Special Cover issue: 26.01.2023:
Dokra Craft:
Dhokra (also spelt Dokra) is non–ferrous metal casting using the lost-wax casting technique.
This sort of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still used.
One of the earliest known lost wax artefacts is the dancing girl of Mohenjo-Daro. The dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro (c. 2300 – 1750 BCE) is not just the most famous piece of art from the Harappan Civilisation, it is also one of the finest examples of metal art from that period.
This world-famous figurine is also the oldest example of a unique metal casting tradition called Dhokra that survives to this day in parts of India.
The products of Dhokra artisans are in great demand in domestic and foreign markets because of primitive simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and forceful form.
Dhokra horses, elephants, peacocks, owls, religious images, measuring bowls, and lamp caskets etc., are highly appreciated. The lost wax technique for casting of copper-based alloys has also been found in China, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Central America, and other places.
Dhokra Damar tribes are the main traditional metalsmiths of West Bengal and Odisha. Their technique of lost wax casting is named after their tribe, hence Dhokra metal casting.
The tribe extends from Jharkhand to West Bengal and Odisha - members are distant cousins of the Chhattisgarh Dhokras.
A few hundred years ago, the Dhokras of Central and Eastern India traveled south as far as Tamilnadu and north as far as Rajasthan and hence are now found all over India. The art of Dhokra was originally found in the region from Bankura to Dariapur in Bengal, and across the metal-rich regions of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
Presently, it is practiced in the tribal belt across present-day Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
Dhokra, or Dokra from Dwariapur and Bikna, West Bengal, is extremely popular.
Recently Adilabad Dokra from Telangana got Geographical Indicator tag in 2018.
The Dhokra artistes first make a clay model out of wax, which is then replaced with molten metal, either brass or bronze, through a lost-wax metal cast.
Dhokra is a metal casted art that uses the ancient lost-wax casting technique.
This art is said to be the first of its kind to use a non-ferrous metal like copper and its alloys – brass (a mix of zinc and copper) or bronze (tin and copper) which do not contain iron.
It uses the process of annealing, where a metal is heated to very high temperatures and allowed to cool slowly.
The casting is done using two kinds of processes – the traditional, hollow-casting method and solid casting. Solid casting is predominant in Telangana, whereas hollow casting is used in Central and Eastern India.
Symbolism of Dhokra:
With its roots in ancient civilisations, Dhokra represents a primitive lifestyle and the beliefs of people, going back to the age of hunting.
This is why figures of elephants, owls, horses and tortoises are commonly seen in Dhokra art.
The elephant symbolises wisdom and masculinity, the horse symbolises motion, the Owl symbolises prosperity and death and the tortoise symbolises femininity.
In Hindu mythology, these iconic symbols also have stories behind them.
The world is imagined resting on four elephants, standing on the shell of a tortoise.
The tortoise, considered as an avatar of Lord Vishnu, carries the world on his back, holding up the earth and the sea.
A Special Cover (SC) issued by West Bengal Postal Circle of India Post:
Links:
More posts on "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" on this Blog:
AMRITPEX 2023 (THE NATIONAL PHILATELY EXHIBITION) held at New Delhi from 11-15.02.2023:
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Five Special Covers released by Philately Division, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi:
Links to Special Covers issued by the Rajasthan Postal Circle of India Post:
Links to posts on Mahatma Gandhi on this Blog:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very informative post."
Thank you so much Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"A VERY informative article on Dokra craft, West Bengal.
Thanks for sharing this interesting post."
Thank you so much Khanna sahab.
DeleteMita Banerjee has commented:
ReplyDelete"As usual... very enlightening and interesting!"
Thank you so much Mitaji.
DeleteVijaylaxmi Shukla has commented:
ReplyDelete"🙏totally awesome 🙏."
Thank you so much.
DeleteRaj Kumar Srivastava has commented:
ReplyDelete"Great post 👍🏻😍"
Thank you so much Raj.
Delete