Wood Crafts of Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, wood carving is an ancient art which has passed through generation. A number of products are crafted with the help of this art such as fixtures of houses, farm implements, bows and arrows, pillars, window frames, masks, pipes, doors, sculptures etc. Large and exquisite figures of Gods, Goddesses, birds, animals and human are made, mostly in Sarguja and Raigarh. A number of tribal instruments are also carved out of wood. Intricate and beautiful designs are engraved on wooden artefacts. Ritual wooden objects are highly popular among the tribal population of Chhattisgarh. During ritual festivals, axes and spears adorned with different objects are used while performing different ritual dances. Engravings and designs of wood crafts are carved with the aid of a nail or red-hot iron knife which leaves grooves and impressions by burning the wood. Different motifs are made which include geometrical patterns, combs, snakes, sun and moon. Another beautiful manifestation of wood craft of Central India is wooden birds with flapping wings. The tools used for wood craft usually include simple and durable ones having wooden grips. Axe is used to shape up the bark and scrapping and carving of the wood is done with chisel. A variety of wood is used for crafting different artefacts. The most common ones include teak, shisham, sal, dhudi and kikar.
Wood Crafts of Madhya Pradesh
The wooden handicrafts of Madhya Pradesh are some of the best sellers as tourist souvenirs. Amongst the various crafts of Madhya Pradesh, woodcarving is considered as the most popular one. The art of woodcarving has thrived in several parts of Madhya Pradesh. In the forts, palaces and some old houses, one is sure to find marvellously embellished wooden ceilings, lintels and doors with finely engraved patterns that are silent testimonials of a celebrated period. The wood carvers of Madhya Pradesh take pride in their grand sensitivity and skill. These craftsmen transform different varieties of wood like teak, dhudi, shisham, kikar and sal into works of art. Apart from the popular wooden memorials, the artisans of Malwa, Nimar, Sheopur-Kalan, Bundelkhand and Rewa also make masks, sculptures, doors, pipes and window frames. Wood Carving of Madhya Pradesh, India also consists of an assortment of painted and lacquered woodcraft items like boxes, toys, bedposts, flower vases and cradle posts. The chief centres of wood craft in Madhya Pradesh, India are Sheopur -Kalan (Morena), Gwalior Budhni (Raisen) and Rewa Musical instruments such as dhols, mandals, dhanks and dhangs are also some of the notable woodcrafts of central India.
Craftsmen from Madhya Pradesh use a variety of wood like shisham, teak, dhudi, sal and kikar for making household items too. Woodcraft from the tribal belt of Bastar is known for intricate figures of tribal deities, carved wooden memorials, masks and so on. Madhya Pradesh is also famous for painted and lacquered wood product like toys, boxes, bedposts, cradles posts, flower vases and so on. Wood lacquering in central India is widely prevalent and the states have many craft centres engaged in making different items out of wood. Some areas are known for vine-leaf patterns on Sheesham wood. Floral, geometric and figurative carvings are also done here with wood inlay work. Inlay work is done with the aid of bone and plastic as ivory is banned in India.
In central India, tourists face the dilemma of choosing between contemporary streamlined shopping centres that stock cosmopolitan range of goods and old bazaars where one would get some specialised items. The magnificent articles of wood carving of central India certainly prove to be a cherished buy. Besides heavy woodcrafts, lacquered toys and miniature utensils for children are also famous in central India. Woodcraft in central India has been carrying a tradition and ethnicity since ages.
