TRADITIONAL CRAFTS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Contents

·         Bamboo and Cane Craft

·         Weaving

·         Wood Carving

·         Blacksmithy

·         Textiles

          Jewellery Making

          Mask making

Bamboo and Cane Craft

Owing to the abundance of cane and bamboo in Arunachal Pradesh, it is very famous for these products. Some of the articles made from cane and bamboo are smoking pipes, basket mats, cane belts, jewellery etc. The tribal population of the state also uses the bamboo products to make household utensils, furniture, dwelling units, bows, arrows, spears, dibbles, hunting and fishing traps etc. A majority of the households in the state are engaged in the making of bamboo and cane products.   

Weaving

Weaving is the second most popular household industry in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Apatani tribals are the most advanced weavers of the state. Bark fibres, human hair, goat hair, cotton and wool are used for weaving purposes. The products made from weaving are lungis, skirts, handbags, embroidered cotton clothes, shawls and ceremonial coats.

Wood Carving

Considered as a traditional craft of Arunachal Pradesh, wood carving is mainly centred in the Wancho area of Tirap district. The products made from wood carvings are warriors, figure heads, miniature morungs, and figurines depicting rural life, animal figures, colourful masks and Lord Buddha’s images.   

Blacksmithy

The various tribes of Arunachal Pradesh specialises in the making of weapons and tools of their own. Items such as knives, arrow heads, Daos, iron bracelets etc. are manufactured. Other metals and bones are also used for manufacturing items such as smoking pipes, sacred bells, dishes and ornaments.

Textiles

The primary textile patterns of the different tribes of Arunachal Pradesh are as follows:

• Floral and Zemorphic patterns
• Adi Pattern
• Apatani Pattern
• Mishmi Pattern
• Zig-Zag Pattern

The colour contrasts and combinations are individualistic in nature and celebrate life in all its forms.

Jewellery Making

This includes crafting of various pieces of ornaments like bangles, bamboo ear ornaments embellished with poker patterns, beaded jewellery made from reed bamboo, wild seeds and glass beads in spectacular designs and colours, silver ornaments like earrings and silver filler necklaces with lockets.