Dokra/Dhokra Art: The Artistic and Laborious Task of Breaking the Mold by a Female Artisan

16-Mar-2026

This photo is from Karge-Rege village in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand, where a woman is seen working on an object made using traditional Dokra/Dhokra art. Dokra/Dhokra art is an ancient metal craft tradition of Jharkhand, whose technique is considered very old and is even linked to the Indus Valley Civilization. In this process, a clay mold is prepared first, and metal is cast into it to create the object. In the picture, the woman is carefully breaking the clay mold using a hammer and pointed tools to extract the metal object formed inside. This silver-colored object is an example of Dokra/Dhokra craft. This art demands immense hard work, patience, and traditional skills.