The ‘Gharua’ or ‘Dhokra Kamar’ tribes are traditionally involved with the craft of metal sculpture in West Bengal. In earlier times, this tribe led a nomadic life, repairing old and broken utensils. They sold statues of gods and goddesses, various sized bowls symbolic of Goddess Lakshmi, small lamps, and small toy models of animals, birds, and bells. The Dhokra tribes of the Bankura region are mainly involved in making idols of gods, goddesses, birds, and animals; while the Dhokra tribes of Purulia and Barddhaman districts engage themselves in the making of various sized measuring bowls, anklets, and tinkling dancing bells. The Dhokra metal objects use lost wax method for casting hollow and solid objects. The objects are mainly of two types: the solid ones with clay inside and the hollow ones. A rough mold of sand, clay, and paddy dust is covered with a mixture called gala, made of mustard oil and beeswax. The intricacies of the final design are worked on this gala. Influence of the coiling technique can be seen in the decoration of the metal work. The spiral and parallel lines are used extensively to create patterns on the object. Brass replaces the gala by the lost wax process. The unique feature of the Dhokra casting in Bengal and Bihar is that the crucible for melting the metal is attached to the mold and both are fired together. A thick strand of wax protrudes at the highest point of the wax model and provides a future passage for the molten metal.

Credit: Handmade in India-A geographic encyclopedia of Indian handicrafts by Aditi Ranjan and M.P. Ranjan, Page: E/WB 256

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