Alwahi

Alwahi is a brand lead by Ganga – Maa Danteshwari – Suraj Self Help Groups. Alwahi is a village near Lohandiguda – Bastar. Its famous for its rural community which specifically  involved  in  the  works on the ancient lost wax casting techniques popularly know as Dhokra Casting. Alwahi village is nurtured by National Rural Livelihood Mission. (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by Ministry of Rural Development. Non-ferrous  metal  casting  using  the  lost-wax  casting  method  is  Dhokra  (also spelt Dokra). For over 4,000 years, this form of metal casting has been used in India and is still  used.  A  dancing  girl  from  Mohenjo-daro  is  one  of  the  earliest  known  lost wax artefacts.  Due  to  primitive  simplicity,  enchanting  folk  motifs  and  forceful  form,  the product of dhokra artisans is in great demand in domestic and foreign markets.  Dhokra horses, elephants, peacocks, owls, religious images, lamp caskets, measuring cups, etc. The first task in the hollow casting process of lost wax consists of producing a clay core  that  is  approximately  the  shape  of  the  final  cast image. Then, a layer of wax consisting  of  pure  beeswax,  Damara  orientalis  tree  resin,  and nut oil covers the clay heart. In all of its finer design details and decorations, the wax is then moulded and carved. It is then coated with clay layers, which on the inside take the negative form of the wax, thereby becoming a mould for the metal that will be poured inside it. For wax, which melts away when the clay is baked, drain ducts are left.The molten metal then replaces the wax, often using brass scrap as the basic raw material. Between the heart and the inner surface of the mould, the liquid metal poured in hardens. The mould is packed with metal and takes the same form as the wax. It is then chipped off the outer layer of clay and the metal icon is polished and finished as desired.

 

Sheeshal

Seeshal is a brand lead by shobha baghel and her team ( Sunita Nag, Sandhya Netam and Kumari Mukti Baghel.) She is director of Jai Maa Saraswati Self Help Group in Village Parchanpal , District- Bastar , Chattisgarh- India. She was trained by Shri Mahadev Baghel. Shobha and her team work dedicatedly to craft such a beautiful piece of work which is purely handcrafted and eco-friendly. Every product you buy from sheeshal gives them livelihood and motive to do more for community. 

 

Ghanasaar

Ghanasaar is a brand by Mr Tijuram Vishwakarma. He resides in village Kadaichepda - Kondagaon. He is known for his ancient lohshilp techniques.
His grandparents and older generations used to melt iron from iron ore stones to extract metals to make wrought iron artifacts.

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the National Award-2013 to Shri Tiju Ram Vishwakarma, (Chhattisgarh), at the presentation of the National Awards & Shilp Guru Awards to master craftsperson and weavers for 2012, 2013 and 2014, in New Delhi on December 09, 2015.

Bastar Iron Craft (also known as "Wrought iron craft of Bastar") is a traditional Indian iron crafts that are manufactured in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state, India. The iron-crafting work has been protected under the geographical indication (GI) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. It is listed at item 82 as "Bastar Iron Craft" of the GI Act 1999 of the Government of India with registration confirmed by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks.