Jeyap is a type of traditional hand fan that represents the simplest and only hand fan used by the Rabha tribe, made only out of bamboo - an easily available, well-sought material in everyday lives of the tribe. This utility use is designed for several ends such as personal cooling and fanning the cooking hearth - all suggestive of the inventiveness of the Rabhas when it comes to making simple, functional household items using indigenous resources.The fan consists of a rectangular mat made of very fine split bamboos, and neat intricate plaiting on it makes the mat very strong and flexible. Its own handle, also made from bamboo, is inserted into a hollowed bamboo tube that serves as the grip for comfortable and easy handling during use. The smart construction facilitates better control and sturdiness during operation.
Not only does jeyap serve practical purposes, but it also records the intimate bond that the Rabha tribe shares with nature and age-old artisanship. Indeed, it makes use of locally sourced bamboo and natural assembly techniques, thus, it becomes eco-friendly and sustenance by design; it surprising carries a humble but beautiful insight into the thoughtfulness behind the design of even the simplest of tribal utilities.Though kept at the Indian Museum, Kolkata, this hand fan stands as a mute yet rich testimony to the Rabha tribe's ability to survive and create artistic splendor.