DOKO - BAMBOO BASKET
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| Doko |
Introduction to Doko (Bamboo Basket):
Doko a traditional Bamboo basket. It is used
with a shoulder strap or a head strap called Namlo used in rural areas
to carry goods from one place to another. As we can say in the early times
there were hardly a transport or motor roads to carry out goods, at that time this
Bamboo baskets (Doko) were used as a container or basket to carry goods and also
for other services by the people in the early days. People used to carry all sorts
of goods for eg. Food items, utensils, and even they used to carry a sick person or
a disabled person (person who cannot walk) to take them to the hospital for treatment.
People actually used it for different purposes in the early days, because of its
durability and sometimes they even used it as a temporary cage for animals. This Bamboo
Basket (Doko) production was a good source of income for the people, as in the
rural areas or villages in the early days old people made this Bamboo Basket (Doko)
as we can say it was a traditional practice of homemade goods and basically to
fritter away the time as there was no mode of entertainment ( for eg. Television)
and people made a livelihood selling these products (Doko). It was a
traditional practice that they passed it on to their family members from ages
to ages. And still, this tradition is alive in the rural areas or villages of
different parts of Nepal and also in the North East region of India (Darjeeling,
Kurseong). We can still see the people using Bamboo Basket (Doko)
for fetching water from the sources by placing the water pot firmly inside it and
people can be seen carrying firewoods(purpose of cooking) and forage (for
their cattle’s) till date. It was and
still is one of the convenient ways of carrying loads by the porters.
While describing this unique and beautiful Bamboo Basket
(Doko), I would like to share a memory from my yesteryears when I used to
visit my maternal grandparent's place (Makaibari Tea Estate) at that time, my
cousin brother and his friends used to visit the forest area and go for
swimming in a small river (natural
swimming areas) we used to carry our extra clothes and some food items inside
the Bamboo Basket (Doko) and while returning back to home we used
to bring a few firewoods, Mushrooms
and Gooseberry is locally known in Nepali
as “Paani Amala” and we used to pack those
eating items in a banana leaf and put them inside the Bamboo Basket (Doko).
Sometimes we used it as a stool to sit on top up it. Well, lastly I just want to
say, that we Nepalese have a sentimental touch with this traditional item Bamboo
Basket (Doko) because it symbolizes the culture and tradition of Nepalese
people.
How Bamboo Basket is made?
Doko (Bamboo Basket) is made of green bamboo strips and is manually
hand woven in a conical or V-shaped. It is believed that bamboo is durable and withstands
harsh weather.
Well, Guys more to come, stay in touch till then take care and goodbye......
Nice information thanks for sharing
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