“Dhokra” is a 4500 year old metal-casting technique since the Indus Valley Civilization. The figurine of the ‘Dancing Girl’ found among the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro bears witness to this theory. Today, the craft is prevalent in eastern parts of India, viz. Bastar in Jharkhand, Kondagaon in Chhattisgarh, Dhenkanal in Orissa, Bankura in West Bengal, among others. Dhokra is also known as the “lost-wax metal casting”, named after the technique followed to make it. It has gained immense popularity in India and abroad due to its primitive styling and indigenous qualities.

Iron-rich red soil is best suited for making Dhokra items which explains its predominance in the plateau regions of eastern India. To make an artifact, the artisans mix soil from farmlands with cow dung and rice husk and knead it well until it is smooth and soft. This clay is used to make the base mould. Riverine alluvium and cow dung is then applied to form a smooth outer layer on the model. The clay mold is dried in the sun for 8 to 10 days. Crushed lima bean leaves are then rubbed on it to scrape off the outer loose soil layer creating a homogeneous moist surface for the wax to stick. Meanwhile, beeswax is heated and mixed with tar, strained through a linen cloth to filter out impurities and make the wax more pliable. Alternatively, the resinous gum of the Sal tree is mixed with mustard oil and boiled to make ‘Dhun wax.’ Thin wax threads are churned out through a pressing machine designed by Dhokra artisans. These wax threads are wrapped carefully around the model based on the intended design. The design made with the wax is printed on the moist soil underneath. They take care not to leave gaps between the strings, not to break the thread or let it get stuck. Over this structure, a layer of clay made from very fine-soil, usually collected from a termite heap or an ant-hill, is applied and dried for 8 to 10 days in the sunlight. This method of creating two layers on both sides of the wax is called hollow casting. Two holes are made at the base of the mould and a clay funnel is attached on them. Two furnaces are created. In one, the mould is kept so that the wax melts away through the holes at the base via the funnel. One has to scrutinize the mould constantly to ensure it doesn’t crack yet the wax melts away successfully. It takes approximately 2 hours in a 1300-degree Celsius furnace for the mold to be ready. In the other, the brass and other metal scraps are liquefied. Then the molten metal is poured in through the funnel which goes inside and takes up the patterns and designs made by the wax. The items are taken out of the furnace and cooled. Once cooled, the soil moulds are broken, revealing the artifact underneath. It is cleaned of all the clay and polished to bring out its brilliance.

Dhokra art gets its name from the Dhokra Damar, the nomadic tribe that popularized the craft across the country. Legend has it that the tribe went from village to village selling the metal figurines of Hindu gods and goddesses in exchange for food. Most Dhokra sculptures depict animals and deities from tribal folklore. In contemporary world, artisans still practicing this particular craft also make other utility items like doorknobs, ashtray, pen holder, photo frame, butter box, candle, door handle, incense stick stand, and accessories. Dhokra art practices suffered a setback in India during the demonetization process and again during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Many artisanal families have encouraged the younger generations to practice alternate trades with heavy hearts. Despite hardships, the craft is still practised by a handful of artisans who believe in art for ‘art’s sake’. These artisans continue to carry forward the legacy of their forefathers to gift us with these unique pieces.