About Indian Metal Craft, Bells or Chimes and Artisans
The Indian Handicraft industry provides livelihood to many artisans. Amongst the wide range of handicrafts, metalwork is one of the most popular crafts in India. Some popular techniques can be traced back 5,000 years to the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Bells or commonly called Ghanta in Sanskrit are a unique cultural form of Indian culture. These Ghanta or ritual bells are an essential part of Indian temples. A Hindu temple has a metal bell hanging at the entrance and devotees use it to ring the bell while entering the temple as a sign of their prayer. It is believed that the sound and the ripple echo the bell generates reverberate on the human aura. Bells are also tied around the cattle’s neck so the owner would know of their whereabouts. A great way to find the cows on huge farms.
Artisans cut and hammer metal or scrap iron sheets to create bell structures. The outer is coated in brass and copper and fired in local or homemade furnaces. The most fascinating part of this process is that all this without using welding! This lends a rustic and unique look to each bell.