Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal is organising a National workshop on 'Anthropolgy and Museums' from February 3 to 5 (For the Teachers) and February 6 to 8 (For the Students). The teachers and students of Anthropology from various Universities are participating in this National Workshop.
Under the popular museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month. The exhibit for the monthof January is ‘Masher Chakra’ (A lamp depicting 12 months activities) used in every house of the Karmakar (Dokra) Community from Bikna, Bankura, West Bengal.
‘Tamoso – Ma-Jyotir Gamaya’ – Signifies the journey from darkness towards light (means the lamp leads us from the darkness towards light. Lamp plays an important role in Hindu rituals. The present object exhibited is a Dokra peacock lamp which is crafted by a community known as Karmakar using lost wax technique.
It is a traditional bell metal peacock lamp locally known as ‘Masher Chakra’, image of a peacock holding a snake on its beak and decorated with five lamps in front and at the top of peacock tail feather, 12 Bengali months celebration/ activities are displayed in every round ocellus or eyespot. The peacock is having a bell metal round base with intricate designs. Two wings are also decorated with geometric dokra designs. It is believed that the lamp having five wicks (Panch Deepak) to increase wealth, business and showers akhand aishwariya or wealth to the place. It is collected from Bikna, Bankura, West Bengal in the year 1997. This exhibit of the month has been curetted by Sudeepa Roy (Assistant Keeper).