Assam Arts & Crafts- The various art forms in Assam are the life and soul of its people

Assam has a flourishing handicrafts business. Assam is renowned for the production of some wonderful silk. The state produces superior quality silk called ‘Pat’ and ‘Muga’. Moreover, weaving and embroidery are counted as major handicraft industry in the state. Cane and bamboo are also used here exquisitely to make beautiful handicrafts. In addition, terracotta products of Assam are also good examples of beautiful crafts.

Various types of handicrafts available in Assam

Handloom
Jewelry
Bamboo and Cane products
Brass and Bell metal crafts
Pottery
Woodcraft
Masks
Terracotta
Traditional Paintings
Toys

Cane & Bamboo Crafts:  Bamboo and cane contribute a lot to the economy and lifestyle of the north-eastern state of Assam. This is mainly because of the fact that the hills and forests of the region have vast expanses of bamboos and canes and the natives, being excellent craftsmen that they are, have learnt to use them for a wide range of purpose in their everyday life. 

Handloom Products: Handloom comprises of one of the oldest industries in the northeastern state of Assam. It is known far and wide for its rich textures and designs. So much importance is attached with the industry that it is customary for every young Assamese girl to acquire the skill to weave, in order to qualify for marriage.

Assam Jewelry: Assam has a rich collection of traditional jewelry, which is unique and exclusive to the state. These jewelries hold a special place in the heart of the Assamese women and are worn during the cultural and religious events. Jorhat, the second biggest city of Assam, is the main jewelry making centre of the state.

Assamese Masks: Masks, also known as mukhas, are said to be the base of the Assamese culture and tradition. They are worn mostly during theatres and bhaonas, which revolve around the Assamese tribal myths and folktales. Since ages, these masks have been the centre of each and every cultural event in the state.

Metal Crafts: Metal craft comprises of one of the oldest cottage industries of Assam. These products are famous all over India and can be found in almost every Assamese household. Famed for their unique artistic skills, the local artists and craftsmen of the state are mainly involved in designing brass and bell metal utensils.

Assamese Paintings: The traditional paintings of Assam serve as a source of inspiration to thousands of art lovers across the globe. Known for their unmatched quality and outstanding strokes of mastery, they have become an integral part of the rich Assamese culture and heritage. Tracing their origin to seventh century AD, Assamese paintings .

Toys:  Toys speak a lot about the culture and tradition of a place. They depict the lifestyle and the way of living of the people residing there. So much can be known about the heritage and customs of a given place through toys that mentioning them becomes inevitable when one speaks about the art and craft of a particular region. 

Woodcraft:  A reference to the traditional art and craft of Assam, without mentioning the exquisite woodwork found there, would be as good as incomplete. So vast is the woodcraft industry in Assam that a separate group of people called khonikors is there to carry out this delicate task. The success of this industry depends mainly on the raw material, timber, which is found in abundance in the state.

Assam handicrafts have a huge export market. And most of these crafts are exported across countries like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, UAE and many other countries of the world. The lovely works of cane and bamboo gets huge attraction in international trade fairs and exhibitions. Moreover, the famous silk of Assam is also quite popular in the export markets.

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Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/

Handicraft of Tripura: The masterpiece of bamboo art

The state of Tripura boasts of its unique handicraft products which are known for their elegance and beauty. The use of bamboo is deeply penetrated in the lives of the people of Tripura which finds mention in the culture, tradition, beliefs and economy of the state. The unique topography of Tripura makes it possible for the abundant growth of bamboos in the state which are used by the artisans to turn them into incredible objects of art. The skilled artisans of the state take pride in producing splendid objects from bamboo, cane and wood and an array of furniture, utensils, decorative items and accessories are made out of bamboo, cane and wood which are slowly gaining recognition both in the national and international market.

Tripura handicraft offers marvelous pieces of art right from home decoration to everyday use. Pieces of interior decoration such as false ceilings, wall panels, room dividers, plaques, pot containers etc are made very intricately. Furniture like sofa sets, dining chairs, garden chairs, baby chairs, morah, centre table, side table, dining table mats, floor mats etc add to the glamour of the living room. The artisans also make different types of baskets out of cane and bamboo strips which are unique art pieces. Items like ladies bags, hand fans, portfolio bag, small framed mirror, hair clips, powder case, decorative trays, earrings, clips, bangles and neck piece are among the other finest works of art of Tripura artisans. The handicraft items are intricate and painstakingly decorated by the makers. The artisans of Tripura are known to make fine bamboo splits and turn them into beautiful objects like loom woven mats with thin bamboo strips, turned and carved cylindrical containers made with bamboo Culm and hand fan made from bamboo mat. These artisans always apply innovations to their art. A recent innovation of the artisans is carving of bamboo roots where statues and sculpted narratives are depicted in Bamboo root carvings.

A Design Extension Centre is run by the State Department of Industries at Agartala and a Bamboo and Cane Development Institute has been established by the All India Handicrafts Board to take up research in the chemical treatment of bamboo. In Tripura places like Agartala, Kailasahar, Khowai, Dharmanagar, Sooamura, Sadar and Belonia are the ones where these products are primarily made. The Riang and Jamatia hill tribe are specially gifted artisans of these products. Tripura handicraft items are available in Purbasha, a Govt.of Tripura undertaking Sales Emporium. There are also several private sales emporiums throughout the state selling handicraft items.

Keywords: Cane furniture, Buy furniture online, Eco friendly bags, Cane & handicraft, Cane furniture’s in Guwahati

Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/

Go Green: working for a safer and a greener environment

Canecraft & Allied Industries is one of the leading manufacturer and supplier of handicraft product in North-East India, having a factory and a showroom in Guwahati. The industry mainly deals in cane and bamboo products, terracotta products, home décor and eco friendly bags etc. With over 23 years of expertise in the sector it also believes in contributing towards a safer and green environment for the society and for the future. As part of its Go Green initiative they have planted more than 300 saplings of trees of various species across Guwahati.

The Go Green campaign aims to aware common people as well as the corporations to choose and make this planet a better place to live. With global warming slowly affecting our planet, the government and the consumers need to be more spirited in going green in every facet of day to day life. You can be part of this campaign starting anywhere - be it your home, office, public spots or in any community. 

Canecraft & Allied Industries has been playing an important role via go green campaign to spread the importance of green behaviour in the society. Apart from planting trees some of the methods one can use in going green include - running dishwashers only when full, turning off the water while brushing teeth, reusing plastic bags, pulling on a sweater rather than turning on the heat, switching from single-use plastic water bottles to reusable stainless steel drinking containers, turning off the water while brushing teeth, replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient eco-friendly bulbs and unplugging appliances when they are not in use.

Importance of going green is something that everyone is aware of nowadays and is gaining momentum all over the world. It is imperative that we ensure that this going green campaign is imbibed in people’s minds and that people spontaneously acquire the habit of living in an environmentally aware and sustainable nature. When our homes, localities and workplaces begin to implement this campaign then definitely it will be a turning point for our society and hopefully we can give a safer and cleaner environment to the next generation.

Canecraft & Allied Industries was founded in the year 1993 by Naveen Sood and the industry is registered under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Government of Assam. As part of the initiative, anyone can walk up to Canecraft & Allied Industries showroom in GS Road and collect tree saplings, which they can plant.  It would like to spread this message starting from friends, colleagues and gradually reach the society. 

Keywords: Cane furniture, Buy furniture online, Eco friendly bags, Cane & handicraft, Cane furniture’s in Guwahati

Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/

Mizoram can be the Bamboo state of India

Mizoram is the land of a number of craftsmen and skilled artisans excelling in various crafts. Bamboo and Cane related crafts are a major source of income to the state as well as the people. The Mizo’s dexterity in wicker-work and basketry is well known. Bamboo and Cane have their multifarious uses in turning out various commercial crafts and items of furniture. Even their houses are generally built with bamboo walls and floors and thatched roofs. While women excel at weaving, men are expert at cane and bamboo work. They make fine cane hats and uncommonly beautiful baskets. The traditional Mizo hat is known for its workmanship. It looks as if the hat is woven out of fine bamboo as fine as cotton yarn. Besides their typical hat or caps, domestic baskets are all made from plaited bamboo and these are reinforced by stout cane, which is very hard and durable. By smoking, the cane would be coloured a shiny mahogany to give some colour and patterns to the work.

Bamboo forests cover a large extent of area in Mizoram. Around 57% of the geographical area of Mizoram is under Bamboo cover found at heights ranging from 400m – 1500m above mean sea level. The State possesses the maximum percentage of  its geographical area under bamboo  forests  as  compared  to  other  States  of   the  country. Bamboo forests are most abundant in the five northern districts but are  rare  in  the  eastern  and  south  eastern  parts  of   the  State, particularly in Champhai, due to high altitude. Most of the bamboo species occurring in the State are found between 400m to 1,500m altitude  and  their  distribution  is  somewhat  restricted  to  above 1,550m.

DONER Minister Jitendra Singh said that Mizoram can become the Bamboo state of India and the Government has already initiated an effort to activate a Bamboo Development Board.

Noting that there was need for each North Eastern state to develop an individual identity, Singh said: “State of Mizoram has a very bright opportunity to develop itself and earn the distinction of being a ‘Bamboo State’ of the Indian Union.”

Keywords: Cane furniture, Buy furniture online, Eco friendly bags, Cane & handicraft, Cane furniture’s in Guwahati

Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/

Earning a Living with Handicrafts

Fifty-year-old Damit Pdakasiej, a mother of 3 girls and 4 boys, from Syntein in Mawsynram makes a living by weaving cane and bamboo handicrafts and marketing them.

Don Bosco Museum, which promotes indigenous art and culture, tourism and alternate livelihood system, is in support of initiatives taken by Self Help Groups (SHGs) and individuals such as Damit Pdakasiej.

Damit Pdakasiej is part of a 20-member ‘Kenbah Kynmynsaw Handicraft and Multi-purpose Co-operative Society’ formed in 2007. Initially, members of the group were trained by government agencies. However since then, they now stand on their own and support their families by manufacturing and marketing their products themselves.

When asked if the trade is sustaining, Damit Pdakasiej said, “In a day, an individual usually makes one big-sized handicraft or two small-sized ones. I earn approx Rs. 200, including the bamboo materials, in a day.” “We are generating an income and managing well,” she added. Her husband Hodling Lapen is also a member of the Society.

Damit Pdakasiej, who first learnt the art of craft-making by watching her mother, also passes on her skills to others by teaching participants attending vocational training programmes organised occasionally by the Society.

Keywords: Cane furniture, Buy furniture online, Eco friendly bags, Cane & handicraft, Cane furniture’s in Guwahati

Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/

Handicraft: The Ancient Tradition of Creating Things with Your Hands

Anyone who’s spent significant time creating with their hands – whether it be painting, carpentry, knitting, carving, building – can appreciate the distinctive satisfaction it evokes. (I’m using the term broadly.) Handicraft, as wide a spectrum as it can encompass, isn’t about routine chores or fix-its. There’s a difference between grudgingly doing your own home repairs to save money and savoring the experience of meticulously renovating your own home. It’s about the love of the craft on some level.

Indian Handicrafts Industry

India is one of the important suppliers of handicrafts to the world market.  The Indian handicrafts industry is highly labour intensive cottage based industry and decentralized, being spread all over the country in rural and urban areas.  Numerous artisans are engaged in crafts work on part-time basis.  The industry provides employment to over six million artisans (including those in carpet trade), which include a large number of women and people belonging to the weaker sections of the society.

In addition to the high potential for employment, the sector is economically important from the point of low capital investment, high ratio of value addition, and high potential for export and foreign exchange earnings for the country.  The export earnings from Indian handicrafts industry for the period 1998-99 amounted to US$ 1.2 billion.

Although exports of handicrafts appear to be sizeable, India’s share in world imports is miniscule.  It is a sector that is still not completely explored from the point of view of hidden potential areas.  India, a country with 26 states and 18 languages and more than 1500 dialects offers an enormous range of handicrafts from each of the states.  Major centres in Uttar Pradesh are Moradabad also known as the "Peetalnagari" (City of Brass), Saharanpur for its wooden articles, Ferozabad for Glass. The North Western state of Rajasthan has to offer the famous Jaipuri quilts, Bagru and Sanganer printed textiles and wooden and wrought iron furniture from Jodhpur.  The coastal state of Gujarat comes with embroidered articles from Kutch. Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh is famous for its Lace and Lace goods. But this is only a small part of the total product range. India offers much more. 

Keywords: Cane furniture, Buy furniture online, Eco friendly bags, Cane & handicraft, Cane furniture’s in Guwahati

Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/

Ethnic Art of Assam - Terracotta on The Verge of Decay

Terracotta Work of Assam is famous in India and also in abroad. It is also one of the most refined versions of  Terracotta Art in India. Assam craftwork represents the rich cultural heritage of India. The magnificent artefacts boost about the mastery skills of the artisans. The terracotta work of Assam has dominated the handicraft segment for ages. The exotic works of art of different mythological figures, idols, decorative showpieces are exquisite example of the thriving terracotta industry of the state. 

History of Terracotta Work of Assam 

The traditional terracotta work of Assam can be traced back to ancient times. This aesthetic form of art has a deep-rooted origin in this state. It evolved significantly with the evolution of art and culture in Assam. The early artisans mastered the art of creating various forms of religious characters that made its presence in several sacred ceremonies and cultural events. Since time immemorial, this tradition has been handed down from one generation to the other. 

Forms of Terracotta Work of Assam 

Two different communities, the 'hira' and the 'kumar' functioning in Assam specialise in clay and terracotta craftwork. Both the communities differ in their method of work. The compression method is followed by the "hiras". They focus on preparing household items and womenfolk of the community are mostly engaged in this work. The "kumar", on the other hand pursue the wheel method. They specialise in the art of pottery work. These products are initially made on the wheel that requires experienced hands. Later they are dried and then kept in the ovens or bhattis. Earthen lamps, plates, diyas, clay dolls, incense sticks holders, chains, pitchers and cups are some of the common products prepared by them. The Goalpara district of Assam is popularly known for its terracotta idols. The Kamrup district is recognised for its blooming terracotta industry. Besides this, the Asharikandi village of Dhubri district of Assam is also popular in this ethic art. Almost 80 percent of the families residing in this village are engaged in terracotta work so that the state and central government has announced this place as a 'model village. '

The terracotta craft of Assam has evolved radically with time. It has developed as a hub for crafts and cottage industries. The modern terracotta artisans not only specialise in making traditional images of gods and goddesses but also engage in producing an array of designer items like toys, dolls, vases, pots etc. These incredible craftworks stand as excellent manifestations of the ancient terracotta art of the bygone era. Local tourists as well as foreigners visit the land to have a glimpse of the art form. It has developed from a traditional craftwork to a flourishing industry. 

Keywords: Cane furniture, Buy furniture online, Eco friendly bags, Cane & handicraft, Cane furniture’s in Guwahati

Visit our website: http://www.canecraftassam.com/