Traditional Crafts

The Monpas are highly skilled in weaving and make some of the most brilliant carpets and shawls in the North East. You can pick these up hand-woven wonders in the Bomdila and Tawang craft centres.

The Apatanis too are known for their weaving and their shawls and jackets make great souvenirs to take home. They also make hand-made paper from the bark of the Daphne Botanica plant found in their jungles. Arunachal is also famous for its colourful masks, agarbatti (joss sticks) and leather items. Tangkha paintings, a beautiful religious art-form whose primary subject is the Buddha, also make for lovely mementos for friends and family.

Bamboo and cane craft
The availability of cane and bamboo in abundance have made Arunachal Pradesh famous for its cane and bamboo articles.Bamboo and cane are used to make colourful basket mats, cane belts, attractive smoking pipes, jewellery etc. It is also used traditionally by the tribal population for constructing their dwellings, common household utensils, furniture, and even weapons such as bows and arrows, spears, armour, and implements like dibbles, hunting and fishing traps. Most of the household are engaged in making bamboo and cane articles.

Weaving
Weaving is another important household industry in Arunachal. Among the tribes the Apatanis are the most advanced weavers. The tribal use bark fibres extracted from trees, goat's hair, human hair besides cotton and wool for weaving. They make ceremonial coats and shawls, and embroidered cotton cloth, handbags, skirts and lungis (loin cloths), shawls, sashes, carpets etc..

Wood Carving
Wood carving is a traditional craft among number of tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh. The main centre for woodcarving in the state is the Wancho area of Tirap district. They make figure heads, warriors, miniature morung, figurines depicting different vocations common to rural life, animal figures, colorful masks and images of Lord Budha.

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Information on Traditional Crafts, arts, handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh - India