Local Art and Craft of Meghalaya

By Anannya Saxena, Class XI F Inspired by THE LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUL by NATHALIE TROUVEROY

The state of Meghalaya is celebrated for its various handmade craft products. The state is gifted with a rich custom of art and handicrafts. The most protruding art here is woodcarving, cane and bamboo work as the state produces ample raw wood material.

Picture of weaving. (credits to https://www.thenortheastwindow.com)

Meghalaya is also known for other handicrafts such as silk weaving, carpet weaving and manufacturing of ornaments and musical instruments. Weaving has been an art form in this state for a long while. The craftsmen make stunning cane mats, winnowing fans, caps, umbrellas, stools, baskets etc. It is an old craft of the tribal people of the state. The art has a rich variety of hand-made textiles, usually with unique characteristics that reflect the area and the people.

Meghum Khoks (credits https://www.thetarzanway.com)

The special kind of cane mat weaved by the Khasis is called  ‘Tlieng’ it is highly strong. They are also famous for making domestic knives, utensils and even guns. The Garo people make stunning baskets known as ‘Meghum Khoks‘. These baskets are used to store various different items. Another speciality of the Garo people is in expertise in Pokerwork in which designs are burnt into the bamboo with a red-hot pointed rod. The Garo weave the material used for their dresses called ‘Dakmanda‘. They also weave shirts, bed covers, bed sheets and tablecloths. Jaintia tribe of Meghalaya are skilled in making bamboo fishing traps which function very well.

Picture of a woman making a Dakmanda Credits [https://thevoiceoffashion.com]

The handicrafts of Meghalaya are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also very durable. Police bazar Bara bazar and Laitumkhrah are a few markets in the capital city where you can purchase these handicrafts.

References

_{http://www.incredible-northeastindia.com/meghalaya/art-handicraft.html}

_{https://www.thetarzanway.com/post/treasured-handicrafts-of-india}

_{https://www.thenortheastwindow.com/2017/09/weaving-meghalaya-ancient-craft/}

_{https://easternroutes.com/northeast-india/meghalaya/art-and-craft/}

_{https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/shillong/arts-and-crafts-of-shillong.html}