Weaving Golden Grass
Mithilanchal's Sacred Coiled Straw Masterpieces!
Material
Wild Golden Sikki Grass
Coiling Core
Sturdy wild Munj grass stems
Origin
Mithila Villages, North Bihar
Award
Geographical Indication (GI) Tagged craft
Watch and Learn! 📺
Sikki Grass Craft (Sikkikala) is an ancient, beautiful folk art from the Mithila region of north Bihar. It uses wild golden-colored grass called 'Sikki' that grows naturally in wet areas. Artisans coil this shiny straw around a sturdy core of 'Munj' grass, stitching it together using a simple metal needle called a 'Takua'. The grass is also dyed in bright colors like red, green, and blue. Women weave this straw into lightweight, durable utility items: 'Pauti' (sacred jewelry boxes), massive storage baskets, elephant toys, and wall hangings. It holds a GI Tag, proving its value as a global heritage craft.
Listen to Audio Guide 🎧
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Test Your Knowledge! 🎯
What is the natural color of wild Sikki grass before dyeing?
Which simple tool is used by artisans to stitch the Sikki coils together?
What sturdy wild grass is used as the inner core of Sikki baskets?
Look at the beautifully coiled 'Pauti' basket and toy elephant on your workbook page! Trace the spiraling circular lines on the basket to show the coiling stitches. Color the grass elephant in bright harvest-gold and leaf-green!
Check your workbook for details.