It is a craft that has been in practice in India for more than four thousand years. It is said that the earliest example of it was found in Mohenjodaro of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Interestingly, this non-ferrous metal casting following the lost wax process has remained the same despite the advance in modern metallurgy. Part of India&rsquos handicraft heritage, dokra (also pronounced as dhokra) is practiced in many corners of India. However, despite its apparent popularity, the craft is fighting a constant battle against machine-made mass-produced goods.
But if you happen to be travelling to or from Bardhaman city in West Bengal, you can pay a quick visit to the Dariyapur village where artisans are trying to ensure the survival of the craft. According to local people, the genesis of Dokra craft in Dariyapur goes back to the time, about 120 years ago, when a few families of craftspeople arrived here from Odisha (some say from Chhattisgarh region) and settled down. However, the village caught people&rsquos attention when a social welfare organisation called Banglanatak dot com encouraged the artisans to put up a crafts fair to showcase their products.
Off the state highway, the entry to the village is marked by an ornate gateway. As you enter, you will find dokra statues and decorations dotting the quadrangle in front of the community centre. There is also a kiln used by the craftspeople. Briefly, artists create a clay model of the product to be made which is covered by wax on which another layer of clay is applied next, molten brass is poured into this mould the wax drains out through a hole and the brass replaces it after the metal hardens, the outer clay is chipped away and the metal polished.
The homesteads of the artists double up as workshops and sales counters. You may watch the artisans at work or even take lessons (paid service) in crafting dokra with prior arrangement. Some of the artists are regularly invited by universities and organisations at home and abroad for imparting lessons on dokra craft.
The artisans make a variety of products, from decorative to utility goods to ornaments. Human and animal figurines, gods and goddesses, decorative panels, there are lots of things to choose from.
In fact, they make various designer lamps of all sizes. With Diwali round the corner, you may pay a visit to the village for buying these lamps. You can even buy them in Delhi at the Dastkar Festival of Lights, where craftsman Subhas Mondol from Dariyapur has set up a stall with Dokra artefacts, including lamps. The fair is being organised at Nature Bazaar Venue, Andheria Modh, New Delhi from 11AM to 7PM daily until October 19, 2022.
Getting there Dariyapur (also spelt as Dariapur and Dwariapur) can be visited on a day trip from Kolkata. The place is about 145km from Kolkata and about 42km from Bardhaman town. While the village can be visited round the year, winter is the best time. Also keep a lookout for the fairs organised by artisan community.