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| Arts & Crafts |
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Arunachal Pradesh has a rich tradition in Artistic craftsmanship. The skills in craft have been passed on from one generation to another. The people of this land express their sense of aesthetics' through various ways like weaving, painting, pottery, smithy work, basket making etc.
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| Bamboo and cane craft |
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Bamboo and cane are extensively used in Arunachal Pradesh to make handicrafts and household utilities. The Arunachalis are expert craftsmen, who create some of the most exquisite artifacts using cane and bamboo.
Bamboo and cane are used to make a variety of products |
like baskets, mats, cane belts, jewellery and attractive smoking pipes. Most of the household are engaged in making bamboo and cane articles.
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| Weaving |
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Weaving is also a very important industry in the households of Arunachal Pradesh. The Apatanis are the more skilled weavers among all tribes. Fibers made from bark of trees, hairs of goats and humans, besides cotton and wool are used in weaving. A variety of clothes and material are woven which include coats, shawls, skirts, lungis, sasha and carpets. The carpets produced by the Monpas are of high quality and has an intrinsic design.
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Hues of black, yellow, dark blue, green and scarlet are the colours which dominate most of the woven material. The tribes bring out some of the exquisite patterns, designs, and motifs in their weaves using these colours.
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| Woodcarving |
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The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh also excel in the art of woodcarvings. The craft has been traditionally practiced for ages by the tribes. You would find some of the most excellent woodcarvings around the Wancho area of the Tirap district. Images of Lord Buddha, animal figurines, warriors and miniature of Morung are the most commonly found woodcarvings.
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| Blacksmithy |
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Metal is mostly used by the tribes for making weapons and tools. The Machetes are expert blacksmiths, who make arrowheads, knives, iron bracelets as well as jewellery. Apart from this each tribe specializes in making a few particular products out of metal.
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| Pottery Crafting |
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Another area, which finds artistic expression in the life of the Arunachalis, is pottery. Some brilliantly designed products like vessels, vases and earthenwares, which are a collector's item, can be found in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The crafts men of Arunachal also use multi coloured |
beads, feathers of birds and wings of the green beetles in many of the crafts as an embellishment.
The art of papermaking has also been practiced by the Monpas of Arunachal for long. They make paper from the pulp of trees called Sukso. The hand made paper of the Monpa is mostly used for writing sacred hymns and religious prayers.
The art and culture of the state may be very conveniently divided into three zones.
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- First Zone (Buddhist tribe)
The Buddhist tribes are excellent craftsman, who make a variety of masks, wooden vessels and silver articles. The masks have a more of a religious connotation used mostly in dance and pantomimes held during the festivities.
The Monpas are also known for their intricately woven carpets with exotic figures of dragons, floral patterns and geometric designs.
The carpet weaving industry is today seeing an explosive growth in Arunachal Pradesh. The women folk have taken it up as a major vocation to cater to the needs of the market.
- Second Zone - central part (from east Kameng in the west to Lohit in the east)
Handicrafts made out of cane and bamboos are the specialties of the people of this zone. The craftsman excel in making hats, cane vessels, cane belts- woven and plain, bamboo mugs, and a variety of ornaments. The local craftsmen meet most of the domestic requirements of everyday utilities themselves.
Shawls, jackets, shoulder bags and coats all stand for the perfection that the people have attained in this art.
- Third Zone (the eastern part of the territory)
Woodcarving is the specialty of this region. The carvers scoop out intricately designed cups, dishes and fruit bowls from wood. They also excel in carving out magnificent masks and figureheads from wood.
The Khamptis of this region are famous for carving out beautiful religious images, toys and dancing figures out of wood. They are also excellent craftsman who weave beautiful bags and loincloth.
A variety of materials like Goat's hair, ivory, boar's tusk, beads of agate and the stones as well as brass and glass are used in creating these objects of art.
Items that could make excellent buys are Sherdukpen shawls, Apatani jackets and scarves, Adi skirts, jackets and bags, Mishmi shawls, blouses and jackets; and Wancho bags.
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