Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 13 (4), October 2014, pp. 771-777 Traditional artifacts from Bena grass [Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty] (Poaceae) in Jajpur district of Odisha, India BK Tripathy1, T Panda2 & RB Mohanty3* 1Department of Botany, Dharmasala Mohavidyalaya, Dharmasala, Jajpur-755001, Odisha; 2Department of Botany, Chandabali College, Chandabali, Bhadrak-756133, Odisha; 3Department of Botany, NC (Autonomous) College, Jajpur – 755001, Odisha E-mails: [email protected]; [email protected] Received 27.06.13, revised 19.08.13 The paper reports the utility of a common wetland plant Bena in traditional craft making in some rural pockets of Jajpur district of Odisha. The field survey was conducted during the year 2010-2012 to access the present status of this unique plant based craft as well as the condition of the artisans involved in this craft making. Data were collected through interview with elderly artisans of the area of study. The result revealed that making artifacts from Bena is exclusively the hand work of female folk belonging to SC (Scheduled caste) and ST (Scheduled tribe) communities. Most of these artisans are either daily wage labourers or marginal farmers while making such craft is their secondary occupation. They collect the raw material, i.e. Bena stem from the nearby field, process it and make around two hundred varieties of attractive craft items both for traditional use in socio-religious rituals and as modern life style accessories. These artifacts are appreciated for their intricate design and glazing golden yellow colour. The existing conditions of this folk craft as well as the artisans were analysed. Some remedial measures are suggested to save this endangered craft from oblivion. Keywords: Traditional artifacts, Bena grass, Jajpur district IPC Int. Cl.8: D01-D07, A01G, A01N, A01D 57/24, A01K 36/00 Artifacts are the products of man’s imagination and In Odisha, there are a few reports15-17 regarding the workmanship of pre-historic origin. These are multiple uses of some wetland plants while there is no manmade objects from the raw materials of plant, information on the use of Bena grass in the animal and other non-living sources available in his preparation of artifacts. surroundings. The artisans living in the existing Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty syn. traditional societies are normally influenced by the Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, commonly known elements of their environment as well as by their as vetiver (derived from Tamil word: ெவேவ myths, legends, rituals, ceremonies, festivals, social vettiver) is a perennial grass of the Poaceae family, organizations and cultural norms which are reflected native to India. It is also common and gregarious in in their creations. As a result, each culturally definable open swampy ground, low lands, rice fields, canals, region has developed distinctive characteristics of margins of ponds and in other unattended water its own in the field of creative art and craft glorifying 1-11 bodies of Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the heritage of that locality . But, there are few other South East Asian countries. In western and scientific studies on numerous varieties of art and northern India, it is popularly known as khus. Vetiver craft materials still created by the artisans and crafts can grow up to 1.5 m high and form wide clumps. men in the country sides all over the world. Of course The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and researches carried out by some investigators provide rather rigid; the flowers are brownish-purple. Unlike information on artifacts made by tribal and rural most grasses, which form horizontally spreading, mat- people in different countries12 and also in the Indian like root systems, vetiver's roots grow downward, subcontinent13. But any comprehensive and exclusive 2–4 m in depth. Vetiver is most closely related study on this aspect is yet to be done in our country14. to Sorghum but shares many morphological ——————— characteristics with other fragrant grasses, such *Corresponding author as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), citronella 772 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 13, NO 4, OCTOBER 2014 (Cymbopogon nardus, C. winterianus), and palmarosa Baitarani along with their branches criss-cross the (Cymbopogon martinii). Though it originates in India, district forming numerous wetlands and water bodies vetiver is widely cultivated in the tropical regions of including small river systems, creeks, reservoirs, the world. Major producers of this species include ponds, marshes, swamps and flood plains. In fact, the Haiti, India, Java, and Réunion Island. The most total wetland area of Jajpur is around 15714 hectares commonly used commercial genotypes of vetiver are which is 2.3% of the total geographic area of the sterile (do not produce fertile seeds), and because district. These wetlands are rich in plant resources. vetiver propagates itself by small offsets instead of Bena grass is a common species in these wetlands and underground stolons, these genotypes are noninvasive also a common weed in the flood plains and rice and can easily be controlled by cultivation of the fields of the district. soil. However, care must be taken, because fertile Jajpur is a place of ancient civilization and a place genotypes of vetiver have become invasive. Vetiver of religio-cultural importance. It is a prominent Shakti is grown worldwide for perfumery, agriculture, Khetra in eastern India with Goddess Biraja as the and bioengineering has been shown by DNA presiding deity. It has also a number of prominent fingerprinting to be essentially the same non-fertile Buddhist remains of the Bhaumakara period (8th-9th cultigens (Figs. 1 & 2). century AD), which indicates that, this area has been a Bena has multipurpose uses in India from the down place of human habitation since ancient times. of the civilization. The plant which is native to India The district has an area of 2899 sq km; divided into is an eco-friendly soil binder18, the roots are used as 10 community development blocks, 06 Tahasils and flavouring agent and the source of essential oil used one Subdivision. It has a total human population of as perfume19-20, woven in to mats called Khas Khas 16.24 lakhs living in 1575 villages, out of which the are used as door and window curtain, dried culms as scheduled caste and scheduled tribe comprise 22.99% brooms and for thatching houses while the pulp of the and 7.76%, respectively of the total27. All the blocks whole plant is used as raw material for making of the district are rural based and the majority of the paper and straw board21. In traditional medicine, people engaged with this craft making belong to people use different parts of vetiver for treating mouth Dharmasala and Barchana blocks. The artisans are ulcer, boils, epilepsy, burns, snake bite, scorpion economically backward; most of them are either daily sting, rheumatism, fever, headache, etc.22-23. Another wage labourers or marginal farmers while making interesting use of Bena is its utility in making such craft materials is their secondary occupation. attractive artifacts in India24 and many other Proceeds from the sale of Bena based handicraft countries25 from ancient period (Figs. 3-24). supplement their income. Although a lot of interest and scientific study on this wild grass has been done for its role in soil Methodology conservation and environmental protection26 use of For the study 11(eleven) villages of Dharmasala vetiver for making craft objects are not properly block namely Kamagada, Betamali, Bharatpur, Antia, looked into. Hence, this project was proposed and Gengutia, Panchakundi, Kharilo, Srichandanpur, undertaken to extensively survey some rural pockets Baunsa anta, Krushnapur and Brahmapur and another of Jajpur where the people are engaged in making this 03 villages, i.e. Palai, Balichandrapur and Panchupandav plant based craft traditionally focusing on its origin, of Badachana block where Bena grass is a common evolution, present status and future prospects not aquatic plant and used in making craft materials were studied and reported earlier. selected after collecting relevant prior information through a pilot survey. Field study was conducted Study site during the period from 2010-2012 with a frequency of The Jajpur district of Odisha (20033’N – 21010’N thrice a year, i.e. in July, October and February latitude and 85040’E – 86044’E Longitude) is coinciding with the flowering period of the plant, surrounded by Keonjhar district in the North, Cuttack time of collection of raw material and craft making, in the South, Bhadrak in the East and Dhenkanal etc. Each visit extended for a minimum period of district in the West. This district has 25% hilly area 4-5 days for field observation, meeting and interaction while the riverine and deltaic plains occupy the with artisans and for collection of other relevant rest 75%. Two main rivers the Brahmani and the information. TRIPATHY et al.: USE OF BENA GRASS AS AN ARTIFACTS 773 Figs. (1-12)—1-Bena grass in natural habitat; 2-Bena bush with flowering stock; 3-Artisans at work; 4- Artisan at work-close view; 5-Kuanra Pasara; 6-Puja Gua Pedi; 7-Phula Changudi; 8-Ornament box; 9-Jhulana, Traditional door hanging; 10- A flower vase; 11- Glass & pot covers; 12- Fruit tray 774 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 13, NO 4, OCTOBER 2014 Figs. (13—22) 13-Decorative wall hanging; 14-Door curtain; 15-Pen stand; 16-Light stand; 17-Mobile/Phone stand; 18-Ladies purse; 19-Ladies vanity bag; 20-Necklace; 21-Decorative ashtray; 22-Toy cart model; 23-Some finished products; 24-Products in exhibition stall TRIPATHY et al.: USE OF BENA GRASS AS AN ARTIFACTS 775 The elderly artisans and team leaders of each group festival in October), Brata Pedi (a small box for in different villages were identified and interviewed storing holy thread), Puja Gua Pedi (a box for storing extensively during the survey.