Skip to main content

Crafts / Bamboo Craft

Bamboo Craft

State
Goa
Material
Bamboo · Cane
Rarity
Popular

Seasoned in sea water, woven for daily work

About

Baskets, trays, fans and mats woven from split bamboo by the Mahar community of Goa.

Bamboo craft in Goa, known locally as maniche kaam, is the weaving of baskets and household things from strips of bamboo. Bamboo grows in several parts of Goa, such as Pernem, Bicholim, Bardez, Tiswadi and Sattari, and the craft is practised in both North and South Goa, in places such as Madgaon, Cuncolim, Porvorim, Pernem, Bicholim and Mangueshi.

Traditionally the craft is the work of the Mahar community, who made bamboo products that were used, among others, by fishermen for their work. The products include baskets, boxes, flower vases, winnowing trays, chicken baskets, grain baskets, partitions, fans and mats, which are sold in weekly markets and in markets across Goa.

Bamboo weaving exists in many parts of India, such as Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, each with its own forms. In Goa, bamboo is the common material for practical objects.

How it’s made

Bamboo work begins with the preparation of the bamboo. In Goa, craftspeople soak the cut bamboo for two or three days in sea water to season it, which helps to protect it, and then dry it in the sun. When it is completely dry, it is cut into lengths by segments, and the outermost layer, the skin, is removed. The pith inside is taken out and used as fuel.

The bamboo is then split into strips, and the strips are further cut into thin splits, which are used for weaving. The main tools are a large knife called the koyto and a small blunt knife called the sun. The weaver sits and plaits the splits over and under one another, forming a base and then building up the sides to make a basket, tray or mat.

Some strips are coloured: chemical colours are boiled in water, the strips are left in the solution for about half an hour and dried, and coloured strips are used to make patterns in the weave. The rim is bound off to finish and strengthen the object. The finished articles are light, strong and can be used in daily work.

Key features

  • Weaving of split bamboo strips, known as maniche kaam
  • Traditionally made by the Mahar community of Goa
  • Bamboo seasoned in sea water for two or three days, then sun-dried
  • Cut with a koyto (large knife) and a sun (small blunt knife)
  • Baskets, winnowing trays, fans, mats, boxes and partitions
  • Some strips dyed to create patterns
  • Sold in weekly markets across Goa

History

The history of Goan bamboo weaving is not well documented in writing. It is closely tied to the daily needs of coastal and village life: fishing, farming and home. The Mahar community has traditionally been the maker of these products, producing items that fishermen needed.

Bamboo craft is a household craft, with skills passed on within families by watching and doing. Products found in the weekly markets of Goa include baskets of different kinds, such as grain baskets and chicken baskets, along with winnowing trays, fans and mats.

In recent years bamboo has attracted interest as a renewable, plastic-free material, and craft organisations and designers have worked with artisans to create new products such as lampshades, trays and storage baskets. The craft also faces the challenge of finding steady new markets.

Facts

  • Sea water Seasoned in the sea. In Goa, bamboo is soaked for two or three days in sea water to season it before it is dried in the sun.
  • Koyto & sun Two simple knives. The craft uses two main tools: the koyto, a large knife, and the sun, a small blunt knife.
  • Mahar A community craft. The Mahar community has traditionally made bamboo products in Goa, which fishermen among others used.
  • Pith as fuel Nothing wasted. The inner pith of the bamboo is removed and used as fuel.

Market

Weekly markets and eco-friendly gifts

Bamboo products are sold in weekly markets across Goa as baskets, trays, fans, mats and storage items, and through craft shops and online as home decor and gifts. Prices are low to moderate. Look for tight, even weaving and smooth edges, and ask whether the bamboo was seasoned properly, since poorly seasoned bamboo can crack or be eaten by insects.

Sustainability

A fast-growing, renewable grass

Bamboo is a quick-growing grass that regrows after cutting, and the craft makes use of the whole stem, even the pith as fuel. Bamboo products are biodegradable and can replace plastic baskets. Choose natural-colour or plant-dyed items over chemically coloured ones.

Products

  • Bamboo baskets: Including grain and chicken baskets for household use
  • Winnowing trays: Flat woven trays for cleaning grain
  • Hand fans: Woven bamboo fans
  • Mats and partitions: Flat woven screens and floor mats
  • Boxes and flower vases: Decorative and storage pieces

Words to know

  • Maniche kaam: The Goan name for bamboo and cane work.
  • Koyto: A large knife used to cut the bamboo.
  • Sun: A small blunt knife used for splitting and shaping.
  • Splits: Thin strips of bamboo used for weaving.
  • Seasoning: Treating and drying bamboo so it lasts and does not crack.

Try it yourself

Resources

Articles

Other links