Dokra Art

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a Dokra Brass Peacock Boat with a Tribal Rider to the Prime Minister of Thailand during his visit, highlighting India’s rich tribal art traditions.

About

• Ancient Craft: Over 4,000 years old, with roots tracing back to the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Example: The iconic “Dancing Girl” sculpture from Mohenjo-daro is made using the same technique.
• Name Origin: Derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes of West Bengal.

Technique Used:

• Lost-Wax Casting (also called Cire Perdue).
• The mold is used only once and destroyed, making each piece unique.
• Materials Used: Mainly brass and other non-ferrous metals.
• Themes: Tribal motifs, animals, deities, and rural life scenes.
• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:Granted in 2008 to Dokra of Bankura, West Bengal.