- The art of Dhokra, named after a nomadic tribe called ‘Dhokra Damar,’ was originally found in the region from Bankura to Dariapur in Bengal, as well as across the metal-rich regions of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
- It is still practised today in the tribal belt of modern-day Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
- The Dhokra artists begin by creating a wax model, which is then replaced with molten metal, either brass or bronze, via a lost-wax metal cast.
Dhokra
- Dhokra is a metal cast art form that employs the age-old lost-wax casting technique.
- This art is said to be the first of its kind to use non-ferrous metals such as copper and its alloys such as brass (a mix of zinc and copper) or bronze (tin and copper) that do not contain iron.
- It employs the annealing process, in which a metal is heated to extremely high temperatures and then allowed to cool slowly.
- The casting is done in two ways: the traditional hollow-casting method and solid casting. Telangana uses solid casting, whereas Central and Eastern India uses hollow casting.
Symbolism of Dhokra
- Dhokra, which has its origins in ancient civilisations, represents a primitive lifestyle and people’s beliefs dating back to the age of hunting.
- This is why elephants, owls, horses, and tortoises are frequently depicted in Dhokra art.
- The elephant represents wisdom and masculinity; the horse represents motion; the owl represents prosperity and death; and the tortoise represents femininity.
- These iconic symbols have stories in Hindu mythology as well.
- The world is thought to be supported by four elephants standing on the shell of a tortoise.
- The tortoise, regarded as Lord Vishnu’s avatar, carries the world on his back, supporting the earth and the sea.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bengal-village-lalbazar-a-hub-for-dokra-metalcraft-basks-in-the-lustre-of-metal/article66288504.ece
