Crafting Traditional Arrows: Case Study 10, Khasi Hills
Crafting Traditional Arrows: Case Study 10, Khasi Hills
| Main Info | ML/KH/HDC/010: Crafting Traditional Arrows |
| Name of the Technique | Crafting Traditional Arrows |
| Source Title | Primary Survey |
| Source Author | Khongsngi W |
| Source Publisher | Primary Survey, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya |
| Source Year | 2023 |
| History Of The Technique | The knowledge owner has been crafting traditional bows since he was twenty years old. The possessor of traditional knowledge is an expert at creating bows and various kinds of arrows that are used for various tasks. |
| Manufacturing technique | 1. For Arrow • Bamboo is collected, cut to size, tied together, and left to dry above a chimney for 3-4 months. • To straighten the bamboo, heat it with a candle or kerosene lamp, then stretch it. • Smooth the arrow with a knife (Tari) or sandpaper. • Create a small nock at the arrow\\\\\\\'s end with a knife. • Apply Rangpat to the area where the feather will be attached. • Split and trim the feather, then tie it onto the arrow with a thread. • Attach the arrowhead using \\\\\\\"Laha\\\\\\\" glue. 2. For Bow • Bamboo is collected, cut to size, tied together, and left to dry above a chimney for 3-4 months. • Carve the bamboo into the desired shape using a knife, then smooth it with sandpaper. • The bow\\\\\\\'s string, called \\\\\\\"Sai siej,\\\\\\\" is crafted from locally sourced bamboo for its strength and flexibility. • Create the nocking point on the string using a thread coated in Bthing (bee wax). • Preserve the bow by either storing it above the chimney or applying touchwood |
| Method of Preparation | Methods of making Arrow • The bamboo is cut into required size once it has been collected, tied together, and placed above the chimney to dry for three to four months. • The bamboo is then straightened by first heating the area with a candle or kerosene lamp, and then stretching it straight. • After that, the arrow is smoothed using a knife (Tari), sometimes with the help of sandpaper. • A small nock is made at the end point of the arrow using a knife. • Rangpat is applied to the area where the feather to be tied. • The feather is then split in two half and trimmed to the appropriate size before being tied onto the arrow using a thread. • Then the arrow head is attaches to the body using “Laha†|
| Material Composition | Materials used: • Bamboo (skhen, Ringai) (area Collected-War shnong) • Birth Feathers (Crane father from Bangladesh area) or any big bird • Thread • Rangpat (Foil) • Bthing (Bee wax) • Iron (Nar thang sner) • Iron (Truck Vehicle spring) for arrow tip made for throwing by hand • Tin (Tin tata) for arrow tip • Laha (Glue for arrow tip) • Needles |
| How to implement | Type of arrows and prices • Nam Jrong (siat target)= Rs 20. • Nam siat competition= Rs 100-200. • Nam siat team= Rs 10. • Nam sum Kti= Rs 300. • Nam Jer Kyrteng= Rs 20. • Nam decorate= Rs 15-200. • Nam Pliang= Rs 100 above. |
| New R & D leads | Traditional Arrow Making |
| Theme | Traditional Handicraft |
| Sub Theme | Art & Craft |
| Tags | Traditional, Processing method |
| Source Title | Primary Survey |
| Source Author | Khongsngi W |
| Source Publisher | Primary Survey, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya |
| Source Year | 2023 |