Dom Community weaving bamboo baskets for Chhath

by Laxmi Chaudhary,Janakpurdham, Oct. 14: As the Chhath festival of sun worship approaches in the Tarai-Madhes districts, people of the Dom Community are busy making bamboo baskets.

During the Chhath festival, the use of bamboo-made items increases, and as demand rises in the market, men and women of the Dom community are busy making bamboo products at this time.

As the demand for bamboo materials increases according to the tradition of using new bamboo items every year during Chhath, districts like Dhanusha, Siraha, Mahottari, Saptari, and Rautahat can now be seen producing various bamboo items.

Dulari Devi Mallik, 40, from Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City–6, said, “During festivals like Chhath, Chaurachan, and Barsain celebrated in the Mithila region, there is a rush to make bamboo items.”

According to her, the Chhath festival brings the busiest time of the year for them. Among all the offerings used during Chhath, bamboo items are essential. Bamboo is used in making several items for placing offerings, performing rituals by the water bodies, and offering to the sun. These are considered important both religiously and culturally.

According to Nilalam Devi from Janakpurdham–7, her family’s main income comes during the Chhath festival. “During this time, we earn between Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 per month,” she said. “Work decreases in other months, but Chhath provides us with the means to survive.”

However, the communities complain that the traditional skills of making bamboo materials, which are religious, cultural, and environmentally friendly, are in crisis because they have not been modernised.

The new generation has not been attracted to this profession, and competition has also increased due to cheaper plastic materials in the market.

Attractive bamboo-made products are being distributed and sold in large hotels and malls in big cities, but the citizens of the Terai-Madhes communities, who have traditionally been making these products, also need additional knowledge and skills. This will further strengthen traditional craftsmanship and ensure that future generations will also be interested in embracing this craft.