Meghalaya: Famous for Its Bamboo Craft

BAMBOO: ART AND CRAFTS

Meghalaya is richly covered with the bamboo forests.The Bamboo forests has diverse species of 36 bamboos that are found in Meghalaya. The important species that is Dendrocalamus strictus, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Bambusa arundinacea, Bambusa pallida, Bambusa tulda, whereas Melocanna bambusoides is one of the important species of the bamboo.

Bamboo usually grow wild and in abundance. The bamboo play a essential role in the socio-economic and cultural life of the tribal state. It is used for various purpose for fishing,agriculture and cattle rearing and also for household items like utensils, furnitures and so on. The bamboo is a significant purpose for the population who are dependent on the handicrafts made by bamboo.

There are a wide variety of crafts found in  Meghalaya and the most famous craft is the cane and bamboo work, artistic weaving and wood carving. The most hindrance work is the use of bamboo from Garo Hills and the transportation of the bamboos.

The bamboo crafts  of Meghalaya plays a crucial part in the life of Meghalaya. The artisans of the region mainly attend to the craft when they are free from agriculture. The Khasi people are famous for its craft for creating beautiful cane baskets and sieves. Garo Hills is also rich for its bamboo and cane and are also famous for its crafts. In Garo hills the baskets made of cane are known as meghum khoks and also valuable items like clothes, bamboo houses, stools, tray, comb are some of the major products made by bamboo in Meghalaya. 

Art and Craft:

Meghalaya is one of the north eastern states known for its bamboo and cane products, wood craving and weaving. The three communities in Meghalaya the Garos, Khasis and the Jaintias have a skill of crafting and making various traditional bamboo and cane products.

The art and craft has a uniqueness of its own as its made very beautifully to make it look attractive. Tourist from various places are mainly attracted to see the art and craft of Meghalaya. The products made of cane and bamboo have received a lot recognition in the national as well as in international market which are high in demand.

Bamboo Houses:

The Meghalaya is also for its bamboo the houses are built usually by Garo tribe of the Garo hills by using resources like bamboo, timber, cane.

These serves as a variety of purposes like granaries or bachelor's apartments. The houses are usually knitted by the Garo tribe to build the houses which are locally available resources such as cane, bamboo, timber, wood from rubber plant and also dried leaves of palm trees. The bamboo houses are usually found in the district of West Garo Hills, Rongram region, Sadolpara Village and also in the Sasatgre.                                              

Some of the Famous Handicrafts:

• Closed Weave Carrying Basket
• Open Weave Carrying Basket
• Baskets
• Small Storage Baskets
• Coiled Cane Containers
• Rain Shield and Headgear's
• Winnowing Trays and Fans
• Mud Shovel
• Shield Made of Bamboo Plints
• Khasi Bamboo Comb
• Khasi Bamboo Pipes

Bamboo Weaving:

Bamboo is also used for making instruments like mouth organ, tobacco pipe, flute and the tribal weapons. There are around four bamboo based industry units in the state such as the Meghalaya Bamboo Chips Limited, Meghalaya Plywood Industry, Timpak Pvt Limited and M/S Roka Cane and Bamboo Works. The bamboo forests are under the control of Autonomous District Council (ADC) of Meghalaya.