The Fun-Kar-Ho is a traditional agricultural basket of the Rabha tribe specially intended for sowing cotton seeds. It is a pitcher-like basket made of finely split bamboo, which shows the incredible knowledge of the Rabha community toward agricultural practices about utilitarian design and sustainable materials. Its structure has a constricted neck and an upper part delicately imbibed with tightly braid bamboo splits for strength and containment. In contrast, in the middle to lower portion of the basket, the weaving is done loosely leaving gaps purposely between the splits. This careful variation in plaiting helps in the controlled spreading of seeds while sowing and decreases wastage as well as makes it more efficient.
The Fun-Kar-Ho is not only an agricultural tool but also a cultural object that reflects the traditional agrarian lifestyle of the tribe and their close association with the land. The use of bamboo itself-being a durable and renewable resource-serves the eco-conscious ethic and artistry of the Rabha tribe.Now it's in the hand of the Indian Museum, Kolkata. This basket is a very good example of indigenous knowledge systems and their application in daily labor. It celebrates the silent innovations of tribal tools and welfare design with environmental sensitivity toward its purpose.The Fun-Kar-Ho is a traditional agricultural basket of the Rabha tribe specially intended for sowing cotton seeds. It is a pitcher-like basket made of finely split bamboo, which shows the incredible knowledge of the Rabha community toward agricultural practices about utilitarian design and sustainable materials. Its structure has a constricted neck and an upper part delicately imbibed with tightly braid bamboo splits for strength and containment. In contrast, in the middle to lower portion of the basket, the weaving is done loosely leaving gaps purposely between the splits. This careful variation in plaiting helps in the controlled spreading of seeds while sowing and decreases wastage as well as makes it more efficient.
The Fun-Kar-Ho is not only an agricultural tool but also a cultural object that reflects the traditional agrarian lifestyle of the tribe and their close association with the land. The use of bamboo itself-being a durable and renewable resource-serves the eco-conscious ethic and artistry of the Rabha tribe.Now it's in the hand of the Indian Museum, Kolkata. This basket is a very good example of indigenous knowledge systems and their application in daily labor. It celebrates the silent innovations of tribal tools and welfare design with environmental sensitivity toward its purpose.