Handicrafts
Goa Sun,
Sand, Sea....
Indian
craftsmen believed that they descended from creative godhead "
Vishvakarma" the architect of the Gods described as the Lord of All
Arts, Carpenter of the Gods, Fashioner of all Ornaments, a great and
universal God. Goans in the particulars have a peculiar genius to absorb
and assimilate the foreign elements. The original and traditional crafts of Goa are:
Pottery &
Terra-cotta
The Kumars worked on the clay that
was shaped on a car wheel and baked in oven; the object thus produced
had practical use in daily life. Water cooler called "Gurguleta"'
had water pouring out of the beak. Round bottom small mouthed rice
cooking pots are called "Budkule", "Kudnim" with
wider mouth stirring are used for making curry and cooking vegetables on
firewood. "Tovo" was gently shaped for frying fish, roasting 'chappatis'
the local unleavened bread or cooking rice pancakes called "sullodeo".
The alcohol Feni is made in large terra-cotta stills. 'Donn' a vase like
container is used to store paddy and rice. Roof titles "Nodde"
are used for roofing. In last twenty five years the artisans have the
knowledge and experience to make moulded sculptures,
decorative vases, floor and claddings titles besides murals. Bicholim is
the centre for artistic pottery. Famous artist "Zilu Harmalkar"
has his workshop in the industrial estate. As the pottery &
terra-cotta are traditional crafts with utility-cum-decorative items produced by the potters with artistic perfection and realistic finish. The items produced include flower garden pots, bowls with floral designs, figures of saints, Gods' and
Goddesses' and animals, ashtrays and pen holders. etc.
Brass
metal ware craft
while utensils of utility are made of sheet metal (copper), brass
metal casting is a craft passed on from one generation to another
practiced on hereditary basis. The items produced include oil lamps in
various designs, candle stands, temple towers, church bells, ashtrays,
etc.
Bamboo Craft
Bamboos
when cut and stripped can be woven into various type of baskets and
mats. These can be used for carrying head load of coconut, rice, paddy,
fish, flower baskets and letter-holders, pen stands, fans and other
decorative items. along the Goa's beaches, restaurant shacks have sprung
up in style of huts of fishermen or agriculturists of yesteryears where mattings
and weavings is essential.
Wooden
laquerware/Wood turning
The items produced are cradels, babycarts, toys, corner
stands, etc.
Crochet & Embroidery
Works such as table cloths, children and ladies
garments, pillow and cushion covers, linen, etc.
Coir
Products
The
Coir generated on husking the abundant coconuts grown locally is used in
making rope. 'Morjim' a sea-side village in Pernem has a number of
families who are thus occupied. Rope of all sizes is made and used for
drawing water from well, plucking mangoes, tying together planks of
woods in the construction of traditional fishing craft. Thin rope woven
with midribs of coconut leaves and bound together make rather efficient
broom. As an matter of facts coconuts
mask carving is done on coconut shells.
Fibre craft
Shopping bags, ladies purses, coasters and wall hangings, etc. made of banana or sisal
fiber.
Jute Macrame craft
Decorative bags, belts, wall hanging, lamp shades, flower pots, hangers, etc.
Sea Shell craft
The items produced include ashtrays, lamp shades, coasters, chandeliers, curtains, pot hangers, table mats, clocks, mirror frame, etc.
Jewellery
The
Goldsmiths or Shetties worked on silver and gold. They created new
alloys for use in making jewellery with precious and semi-precious
stones. The famous "marquesites" sets used by Christian women
for weddings, earrings, rings, green malachite chains called "foddo"
are still in fashion. Gold filigree necklaces were famous fifty years
ago, as were flower shaped gold garlands for decorating shaped hair.
Jewellery used by Hindu women is much more intricate and ornate, there
is less use of precious and semi-precious stones. Instead black beads
are worked into chains and gifted by the bridegroom to his bride as a
symbol of marriage. When gold was used as currency, its jewellery was
consider to be an investment. The important of the metal diminished in modern
times as new of buildings up assets appeared along with government
regulation that put a ceiling on the amount of gold that each women
could possess.
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