Jharkhand - A LAND OF CULTURAL CONTINUITY

It is indeed serendipitous that our ancient lore has many references to one of the country’s newest states Jharkhand, which came into being on 15 November, 2000. References to Jharkhand can be found in both the Vayu Purana and the Vishnu Purana. In the Vayu Purana, the place Muranad’ is thought to be present-day Jharkhand. Similarly, Mund’ in the Vishnu Purana refers to the region which forms today’s Jharkhand. This only serves to highlight the unbroken cultural continuity of the unique traditions and way of life of the land predominantly comprising of tribal populace. The geographical area which comprises the modern state of Jharkhand is mentioned in the writings of many travellers throughout history. In fact, Jnarkhand’s people and their culture are rooted in antiquity. Jharkhand’s culture is rich with some influences of different civilisations, various ways of life, and traditions. This culturally unique land is a treasure trove of distinct art and dance forms, musical traditions, handicrafts, and cuisines.

Handicrafts The tribal community, which is the single largest social group in Jharkhand and comprises over 26% of the total population of the state, is known for its intricately designed handicrafts. Most of these crafts originate from ancient tribal cultures and are still a part of the day-to-day lives of the community. The various crafts of Jharkhand range from the world-famous lost wax metal craft (Dokra) to stone carvings.

Dokra: 4,500 years ago, a metal sculptor in MohenjoDaro created a masterpiece – the fabled ‘dancing girl’ figurine. The discovery of that masterpiece proved that a flourishing civilisation once existed in the basin of the Indus River Valley. If that craftsman were to visit Jharkhand, says a writer, he would find himself right at home! For, this art form is alive and well in the state. Inspired by ancient craftsmen, the Dokra metal-casting process uses the same wax metal techniques that sculptors in the Indus Valley Civilization used to create exquisite bronze sculptures and figurines. Today, this fabled and extremely demanding art form has come to be synonymous with Jharkhand.