======= CULTURE ======= Craft: Kansa/Bell Metalware Origin : Odisha Items: Metal vessels For the past 300 to 400 years, crafting vessels and other items from kansa (bell metal) exists. people are referred to as Kansaris. Traditionally, the people of Orissa have always used kansaware to cook and serve food, as they believe in the medicinal properties of the metal. it is the men ( father, brother)who play a major role. They are in charge of firing the metal, melting it, digging small pits into the earth and pouring the molten metal into these pits for shaping. Once cooled for 3-4 hours, wood charcoal is used for re-heating, and the red-hot metal is beaten with an iron-hammer to set it into the desired shape. At this stage the vessel is a sooty black color, and so it is scrubbed with a leaf called Amadhi to remove the black coating. This, in fact, is the only step in which the women of the family are involved. The cleaned utensil is then polished on a stone polishing wheel. Kasari family begin their day at 4 am, and are able to produce only up to four thaalis (platters) a day due to the labor-intensive process involved. Traditionally, the people of Orissa have always used kansaware to cook and serve food, as they believe in the medicinal properties of the metal. Kansa utensils have always been an essential part of the bridal trousseau in Orissa. But kansaware is considered expensive now. The cost of bell metal is presently about 250 rupees per kilogram. Hence, the utensils aren’t made as heavy or as large as they used to be. Now, most of kansaware clientele are doctors who are conscious of the health benefits of using kansaware utensils.
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 07:38:30 +0000
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