Under the latest and popular online series of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya entitled 'Exhibit Week’ the Tikra Gusai, Dhokra image of female deity collected from1998, The rural community of Raigarh Chhattisgarh has been displayed.
Its Measurement Height 66 CM and Width -33CM is on display for the audience as The Third Exhibit of the month of November, 2020 through official website, Facebook, Instagram and twitter page of the IGRMS.
In this regard Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind), initially this series will focus on the masterpieces from its collection which are considered as unique for their contribution to the cultural history of a particular ethnic group or area.
Tikra Gusai is the finest example of the unbroken relationship between tribal culture and Dhokra art found in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.
This idol of Lord Tikra Gusai is beautifully crafted by a Jhara artist following indigenous casting methods. The Jhara is a local metal cast community of Raigarh, popularly known around the world for their Dhokra art.
Regarding this object Sudeepa Roy said that this object cast by the lost wax technique Jhara community cast different idols of Gods and Goddesses for the local tribal communities like Muria, Gond, Bison-horn Maria, Bhatra etc. The present idol is shown sitting on an elaborated and ornamented throne with a flag fixed at the top. The entire throne is decorated with small dokra images considered to be twenty other sisters of gusai deity.
The deity is placed at Tikra, a place outside the village and worshiped for the prosperity of the entire village and community. The Jhara people worship the idol before sunrise. Once or twice in a year a goat or cock is sacrificed to please Tikra Gusai deity.