ME AND MUSEUM

The traditional drum makers (Pung Shaba) of Manipur particularly the Meitei adopt a unique style of stripping method for obtaining binding elements for making drum. Scraped and dyed leather cut into a circular form is used for preparing binding strips. These strips are used for tying the membranes that are generally fixed along the sides of the hollow body. A simple pinching tool (Punghut) is allow to stand firmly on ground and two desirable sizes of bamboo splits are placed crosswise across this Punghut. The leather is prepared with a small circular hole with the help of chisel. It is then placed in between the two splits. The teeth of chisel is pressed on the edge of the upper split of bamboo and allowed to rotate by pulling the strip through the vertical stand of Punghut which serves as a kind of axle between the two splits. This continuous pull allows the strip to cut or stripped unformly. 

Rabha is one of the important tribe of Assam largely concentrated in Gwalpada district of Assam. They are also found in the bordering areas in close conjunction with the West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya. Traditionally, Rabha house is long and elongated bamboo dominated structure constructed on a rectangular plan on raised plinth of earth. The house is thatched with local grass which is available in their surroundings. These long wild grass is available in a long stretch of growth extending to the hill ranges of West Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Rabhas are known for their unique skill of hunting, trapping and fishing activities. Traditional material cultures of the Rabhas are mostly dominated by the bamboo and wooden items. They use different varieties of bamboo species and local wood to meet their livelihood. Most of their household utilities, agricultural tools, looms, hunting and trapping implements and utensils are made of bamboo and wood. Most of the Rabha villages in ...

Banita Behera IGRMS,Bhopal While looking at craft an obvious question arises out of curiosity which sometime remains unanswered. Question possibly may be how this thing came in-to existence? How this thing was made and who made it? The indigenous tribal people of India along with their culturally rooted aesthetic principles and associated moral and religious values emphasize their craft as a unique one. As an innate and inseparable part of culture and society, the art and craft produced is styled in culturally patterned ways. There are many traditional art and crafts of tribal people, which are now on the verge of extinction. It is need of the hour to preserve and revive their culture which is gradually decoying.  A Whole hearted effort is to be made by adopting various measures and technologies to preserve and revive it or else this great cultural tradition will be buried under the sandy-shore of time. The income generating activities should not cause the tribals to mi...

This article explores the science of Meitei belief system culminating with traditional pre-vaishnavite form of religion. Worship of Pakhangba and beliefs and practices associated with Paphal cult are instrumental in the cultural and social integration of the people of Manipur. The abode of Paphal in sacred places, groves, lakes, mountains, river, caves and forests are merely not a matter of its cultural existence but also prove its biological concern by taking a decisive role in conserving nature.   Paphal representing Ningthouja (royal) clan Religion plays an important role in the growth of human civilization and every society are religious in expressing culturally laid resolution of social and psychological problems. Every society, be it ancient or modern, passes through naturalism and animism. The animistic and naturalistic faiths, those of which are deeply rooted in the beliefs and practices of a society, remain to exist in some forms even if it has undergone c...