Things We Make and Do — Local Crafts and Traditional Occupations of Chhattisgarh

Overview

This topic connects students with the rich cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh through its traditional crafts, arts and occupations. For CG TET Paper I, this section falls under Environmental Studies and tests your understanding of how local communities earn their livelihoods, the materials they use, and the cultural significance of their crafts.

Examiners frequently ask about specific crafts unique to Chhattisgarh (bell-metal work, bamboo craft, Kosa silk), the tribal communities associated with them, and the raw materials sourced locally. You must also understand the pedagogical angle—how to teach children about their immediate environment through hands-on activities related to local occupations.

This topic carries moderate weightage but offers easy marks if you memorise the craft-community-material-region associations specific to Chhattisgarh. Questions often appear as matching pairs or direct factual recalls.

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Key Concepts

• **Bell-metal (Dhokra) art** is the signature craft of Chhattisgarh, practised by the Ghadwa community using the lost-wax casting technique. Bastar district is the primary hub.

• **Kosa silk** is produced from cocoons of the Antheraea mylitta silkworm fed on Arjun and Saja trees. Champa, Raigarh and Korba are major production centres.

• **Bamboo and cane craft** is widespread among tribal communities for making baskets, mats, fishing traps and household items. Bamboo grows abundantly in Chhattisgarh's forests.

• **Terracotta and pottery** traditions exist in rural areas where potters (Kumhar community) make earthen pots, diyas and decorative items using local clay.

• **Wrought iron craft** involves tribal artisans creating tools, decorative gates and ritual objects. Kondagaon is famous for iron craft alongside bell-metal.

• **Godna (tattooing)** is a traditional body art form among Baiga, Gond and other tribal women, reflecting social identity and cultural beliefs.

• **Traditional occupations** in Chhattisgarh include farming (rice cultivation), forest-produce collection (tendu leaves, mahua, lac), fishing and animal husbandry.

• **Community-craft linkage** is essential—each craft is associated with specific castes or tribes who have hereditary knowledge passed through generations.

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Key Facts

| Craft/Occupation | Community/Tribe | Region/District | Raw Material | |------------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------| | Bell-metal (Dhokra) | Ghadwa | Bastar, Kondagaon | Brass, bronze, beeswax | | Kosa silk weaving | Koshta, Devangan | Champa, Raigarh, Korba | Silk from Antheraea mylitta | | Bamboo craft | Gond, Halba, Kamar | Throughout forested areas | Bamboo, cane | | Terracotta/Pottery | Kumhar | Rural Chhattisgarh | Local clay | | Iron craft | Lohar (tribal) | Kondagaon, Bastar | Wrought iron | | Stone carving | Patharia | Sirpur, Rajim | Sandstone | | Wood carving | Various tribes | Bastar | Sal, teak wood | | Tendu leaf collection | Tribal communities | Forest regions | Tendu leaves |