Supported byThe Department of MSME&TGovernment of West Bengal

DokraSimply primeval

Rural Craft Hub

Bardhaman

Bankura Bikna

& Dariyapur

Indexthe locationthe craftthe craftspersonsthe raw materialthe toolsthe processthe productdirectory

Hubs of Dokra craft have been developed in two locations, Bikna in Bankura district and Dariyapur in Purba Bardhaman district are part of the Rural Crafts Hub initiative undertaken by the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises & Textiles, Government of West Bengal in collaboration with UNESCO.

1.the

locationBikna:

The history of the Dokra artists in Bikna is about 150 years old. The crafts persons at that time migrated from Chotanagpur region to Rampur beside Bankura. The crafts persons settled in Bikna over the period. Their habitation is known as Shilpadanga.

Getting there:

By Train: Bankura is the nearest railway station and is 3 km away from Bikna. Bankura can be reached by train from Howrah.

By Road: From Kolkata it takes approximately 3.5 hours to reach Bikna.

By Air: Andal airport is about 60 kms away from Bikna and takes about an hour and a half by road .

Accommodation:

There is a common facility centre at Shilpadanga, Bikna where lodging facilities for guests is available. Besides, there is a range of hotels in Bankura town.

Nearby places of interest:

The famous Terracotta temples of Bishnupur are about 35 kms away

from Bankura and take about an by road.

Mukutmanipur is known for its scenic beauty and is at the confluence of

rivers Kangshabati and Kumari. It is situated around 50 kms from

Bankura.

Around 6 kms away from Mukutmanipur, there is the Parasnath temple

built in 13th century.

Susunia Hills, 30 minute’s drive from Bankura, is a trekker's paradise.

Sendra, 6 - 7 kms from Bikna is a place where terracotta “Bonga Hati” is

made.

Biharinath Hill is a nearby picnic spot, known for its scenic beauty and

famous Shiva temple.

Dariyapur:

The Dokra artisans of Dariyapur village settled here about 120 years back.

Getting There:

By Train: Guskara is the nearest railway station which is around 4 kms away from Dariyapur. From Bardhaman it is 45 kms away.

By Road: Dariyapur is 140 kms away from Kolkata.

By Air: Andal ariport is 66 kms away from Dariyapur and takes about one and half hours by road.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is available at the common facility centre for guests in the village itself. There is also a municipality guest house at Guskara. A range of hotels is also available at Bardhaman.

Nearby places of interest:

Uddharanpur is a small village in Ketugram situated around

60 kms away from Dariyapur. The village resembles a fort

and it is believed that the famous Naihati Fort was situated

here. It is also noted for its 500 year old fair.

Kogram situated around 25 kms away from Dariyapur is on

the confluence of rivers Ajoy and Kunur, and is believed to

be the Capital of Vikramaditya.

Santiniketan is just 28 kms away from Guskara.

‘Bhalki Machan’ is a resort located around 14 kms away from

Dariyapur.

2.the craft

okra craft is one of the earliest methods of non-ferrous metal casting

Dknown to human civilization. The lost or vanishing wax casting method (cire perdue) of metal casting, popularly known as Dokra, is

a primitive technique, which can be traced back to the Indus valley civilization. Dokra statues are revered all over the world for its primeval simplicity and enthralling folk motifs. These figures have a rustic and antique finish which adds to its appeal.

It is said that about three thousand years ago the king of Bastar, which is in the state of Chhattisgarh, was gifted a Dokra necklace for his wife. He was c h a r m e d o n s e e i n g t h e necklace and thus honored the c r a f t s m e n w i t h t h e t i t l e “Ghadwa”. The name Ghadwa has been derived from the word “Ghalna” meaning melting and working with wax. They are also known as Vishwakarma, Ghasia, Mangan and Kansara in some regions of India. A few hundred years ago the Dokra makers of Central and Eastern India traveled as far as Andhra Pradesh in the south and Rajasthan in the north and thus the art from is now practiced all over India. The main pockets practicing Dokra are Bastar in Chhattisgarh, Ushegaon and Chittabori in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, Puri, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Khurda in Odisha, Purulia, Bardhaman, Bankura and Medinipur in West B e n g a l a n d s e m i - t r i b a l communit ies l iv ing at the mountain ranges of Vindhya in Madhya Pradesh.

Dokra of Bengal received GI status in 2018.

3.the craftspersons

resently 58 families live as a close-knit community in Shilpadanga,

PBikna. Most of the craftspersons are from the Karmakar community meaning metal workers.

36 families in Dariyapur are involved in making Dokra craft. Most of the crafts persons are from Karmakar community.

Bikna

Dariyapur

Block GP Village

Block GP Village

# of households

# of households

# of craftspersons

# of craftspersons

# of women

# of women

Bankura-II Bikna Bikna 58 163 80

Guskara Dignagar-II Dariyapur 1 3 36 3 65

Leading artists like Gita Karmakara and Harendra Nath Rana have represented their community at UK and France respectively. Amar Karmakar, Dhiren Karmakar, Buddhadeb Karmakar, Nitai Karmakar are state awardees. Late Juddha Karmakar was a Presidential award winner. The crafts persons are organised under Bankura Bikna Hastajata Dokra Kutir Shilpa Kalyan Samity which was set up in 2013.

The leading crafts persons include Ramu Karmakar who won the National Shilpa Guru Award in 2009-10. Late Motor Karmakar was a Presidential award winner. Paran Karmakar won the District award in 2012. The other important craftspersons are Subhash Mondol, Paran Karmakar, Ashok Karmakar and Gangadhar Karmakar. Subhas Mondal has showcased his tradition at USA. The crafts persons are organised under the Dariyapur Dokra Artisan Co-operative Industrial Society Ltd.

4.theraw materials

rass & bell metal scrap, resin, wood, gum, tar, wax, mustard oil,

Bcoal and soil of a particular type locally known as Nena, are the various raw materials. Crafts persons procure the raw materials

from the local market.

5.the tools

ongs, hammer, drill machine, buffing machines, gas welding

Tmachine, crucible are the tools used by the artists.

2

5

6.the

process

he lost or vanishing wax hollow casting method (cire-perdue) of

Tmetal casting is used for making Dokra products.

1. A clay core is modelled in the shape of the desired product.

2. Clay core is covered by a layer of wax and tar or tar and resin wood gum.

3. The outer layer is shaped and carved in all its finer details.

1 2

5

4. Clay covering is done to form a mould for pouring in metal. Drain ducts are left for the wax, which melts away when the clay is baked. The wax is replaced by the molten metal. The liquid metal poured in hardens between the core and the inner surface of the mould.

5. Moulded product is baked. The metal fills the mould and t a k e s t h e s a m e shape as the wax.

6. Outer layer of clay is chipped off and the metal figure is p o l i s h e d a n d finished.

3 4

6

7.theproduct

nitially crafts persons used to make traditional items like

Imeasuring bowls, bells of different kinds, lamps and simple jewellery for their family members and lamps.

At present the crafts persons make a wide range of decorative items. Dokra products like bullock cart, horse, elephant, peacock, owl, Nandi (bull), idols of Durga, Saraswati, Ganesh and Lakshmi Narayan, lamp, candle stand, incense stick holder, ash tray, soap case, mobile holder, door knob, figurines of women, mother and child, tribal couple, wall panels with stories of Krishna Leela and other designs & so on are made. Traditionally the crafts persons made jewellery for their own family members while now a variety of modern jewellery products like necklace with beads and Dokra lockets, ear rings, bangles are made. Creative pieces like Krishna on chariot, tribal figures etc. are also produced.

Ashok Karmakar (Treasurer)

+91 9635673082

Ramu Karmakar

+91 977578037

Bapi Turi

+91 9933138083

Gangadhar Karmakar

+91 9775383529

Jiten Karmakar

+91 9647105645

Mukul Karmakar

+91 9933798502

Subhash Mondal(President)

+91 9735228086

Ramu Karmakar

+91 977578037

Subhash Mondal (President)

+91 9153255955

Subho Karmakar (Secretary)

+91 9123003933

Suresh Karmakar

+91 7872287512

Suresh Karmakar

+91 9775869357

Dariyapur Dokra Artisans' Co-operative Industrial Society Ltd.

Village & P.O: Dariyapur,District: Bardhhaman,Pin: 713128Phone No: 9735228086e-mail: rch.dokra.dariyapur@gmail.com

Dariyapur

8.directory

Directory Amar Karmakar

+91 8670074275

Ananta karmakar

+91 9076590961

Buddhadev Karmakar

+91 9547496004

Dhiren Karmakar

+91 8298000397

Gopon Karmakar (President)

+91 8670518026

Gita Karmakar (Secretary)

+91 9933698558

Harendranath Rana (Treasurer)

+91 9932601095

Jiten karmakar

+91 9093480073

Netai Karmakar

+91 8759758626

Putul Karmakar

+91 8972278814

Sadhan Karmakar

+91 7699656231

Samar Karmakar

+91 8348938797

Sudhir Karmakar

+91 9732023305

Sukhomoy Karmakar

+91 9093130950

Bankura Bikna Hastajata Dokra Kutir Shilpa Kalyan Samity

Shilpa Danga, Bikna District: Bankura, Pin: 722155Phone No: 9932601095e-mail: rcchbengal@gmail.com

Bikna

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