Traditional Crafts of Jharkhand

Discover the indigenous craft heritage of Jharkhand: GI-tagged Sohrai painting, lost-wax Dhokra brass, Kuchai organic Tussar silk, bamboo craft and wood carving.

Traditional Crafts of Jharkhand
Traditional Crafts of Jharkhand

Sohrai & Khovar Painting (GI-Tagged Provenance)

Ancient ritualistic mural wall painting traditionally practiced by indigenous women using natural ochres, kaolin, and charcoal. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Dokra Lost-Wax Metal Craft (GI-Tagged Provenance)

Ancient 4,000-year-old non-ferrous lost-wax bell metal casting creating rustic tribal figures, deities, and wildlife. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Kuchai Organic Tasar Silk (GI-Tagged Provenance)

Naturally copper-gold wild silk organically reeled from Asan & Arjun tree silkworms, handwoven on traditional pit looms. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Bamboo & Cane Craft (Bans Kala) (Traditional Craft)

Eco-conscious utilitarian and decorative basketry, modern home lighting, furniture, and mats crafted by Mahli artisans. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Paitkar Scroll Painting (Traditional Craft)

One of India’s oldest living indigenous scroll painting traditions, telling tribal myths, afterlife journeys, and Santhal folklore. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Tribal Terracotta & Clay Art (Traditional Craft)

Low-fire red clay roof finials, elephant votive idols, storage urns, and decorative wall tiles with tribal engraving. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Tribal Lac Bangles & Ornaments (Traditional Craft)

Vibrant natural resin bangles, necklaces, and jewelry boxes encrusted with glass beads and tribal mirror work. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Tribal Woodcraft & Chhau Masks (Traditional Craft)

Carved gamhar and sal wood household objects, mythological dance masks, tribal totems, and ornate doorway torans. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Jadopatia Scroll Painting (Traditional Craft)

Sacred Santhal narrative scroll art depicting life after death, cosmology, and heroic legends by Jado artists. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Tribal Jewellery & Brass Beadwork (Traditional Craft)

Solid bell-metal Hasli neck torcs, Painri ankle bells, and beaded adornments worn during sacred dance gatherings. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Appliqué & Embroidered Textile Work (Traditional Craft)

Appliqué (Khatwa) and hand-embellished textile work add sculptural layers of colour, motif, and stitch to handloom fabrics, ceremonial canopies, and apparel across Jharkhand. Practiced predominantly by rural and tribal women artisans, this living heritage blends ancestral patchwork with handspun Tasar silk, pure khadi cotton, and delicate needlework. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Cotton Handloom & Tribal Weaving (Traditional Craft)

Traditional Chik Baraik handloom weaving of Panchi-Parhan, Khadia Gamchha, and red-bordered ceremonial textiles. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Grass, Leaf, Reed & Fibre Weaving (Traditional Craft)

Hand-braided wild Sabai grass, date-palm frond mats, and natural fiber home decor crafted by tribal women. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Stone Carving & Softstone Sculpture (Traditional Craft)

Intricate temple sculptures, deity idols, and thermal-retentive cookware carved from regional soapstone and chlorite schist. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Traditional Leather Craft & Musical Drums (Traditional Craft)

Handcrafted sacred Mandar, Nagara, and Dholak acoustic membranes using non-toxic vegetable-tanned leathers. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Paper Craft, Papier-Mâché & Mask Craft (Traditional Craft)

Lightweight, expressive theatrical Chhau dance masks and sustainable folk décor sculpted from recycled paper and clay. Practiced primarily in undefined.

Forest Botanical Agarbatti & Natural Incense (Traditional Craft)

Pure forest Sal dammar resin (Dhuna), wild botanicals, and bamboo splints hand-rolled into 100% charcoal-free sacred incense. Practiced primarily in undefined.