Have you ever wondered how multipurpose rice grains or paddy areIJ We feed it to a crow or pigeon but do you know that one can make decorative pieces from these grains.
At the ongoing Adivasi Mela in Bhubaneswar, one thing that particularly catches visitors’ attention is the gods and goddesses made out of rice grains. It’s great to see how tribal artisans have given a unique creative touch to a simple rice grain by their incredible work of art and design.
This reporter caught up with Khagapati Munda, who is from Nabarangpur district, is showcasing his exotic decorative items at the Adivasi Mela. Khagapati says that they are a team of 30 people who make these Dhana Murtis (rice grain idols). To complete one full-fledged idol, it takes them two days. The Mundas are an ethnic tribal community who make Dhana Murtis that are distinctive to their region.
Talking to The Pioneer, Khagapati explained in detail about how these beautiful decorative pieces are made. The idols are made by using basic three elements; rice grains, bamboo slivers and coloured threads. The bamboo slivers are primarily soaked in turmeric water and dried in the sun to make them more pliable. Then, the rice grains are intricately placed between two thin bamboo slivers using coloured cotton threads alone. The artisans then fold and coil the rice sticks into various forms creating idols and other objects.
The coiled sticks are held in place with a convolution of coloured cotton threads, evolved overtime to look like beautiful patterns. The idols can be of Ganapati or lakshmi or Saraswati, which is finally adorned with ‘Bindis’ implanted to fit the context. One can also find a ‘Kalash’, which stands for prosperity, integrity, beauty and vibrancy made from rice grains.