Amita Priyam

sikki's handicraft

Sikki is the king of stemmed grass found in the wet lands of the north Bihar. The women collect Sikki-grass from the village farms. The upper portion of the stem, which contains flowers, is discarded and the remaining portion cut into small pieces and preserved for making attractive sikki ware. To make the Sikki grass usable it is first cut from near its base and then dried. The upper portion of the flowering stem is then pruned. The remaining portion is finely sliced and shaved and used for making the products. Munj grass, a locally available much cheaper grass, is used to give structural strength – to form the core of the rim and edges of most products, around which the sikki grass is woven. Baskets crafted out of Munj grass are a part of the living tradition of the state and have multiple uses, including the storage of food, clothing, and jewellery. Munj grass, pale lemon in colour, grows wild, and is strong and durable.