The aforementioned ladle fashioned from gourd is brown in color and small in size, and, therefore, one of the excellent examples of these traditional simple tools fashioned by the Bonda tribe of Odisha, one of the most ancient and strongest tribal communities in India. The Bondas inhabit the remote Malkangiri district of Odisha and carry out their lives on close association with nature, in return proposing some essential tools out of organic materials such as gourd, timber, and bark.
This ladle bears a long and thin handle with a small circular head, carved with a hollow to serve liquids like water, soup, or fermented drink. The natural curve of the gourd has been retained by giving it a shape and form to serve as a lightweight and functional kitchenware. The brown color comes from natural sundrying and, at times, smoke curing, which also adds strength to it. In general, these ladles have been used for household purposes, which are very common in Bonda households and symbolize the ingenuity of the community around the use of things that are available to them. Instead of resorting to metals or plastics, the Bonda people tap the available resources from nature to make their useful tools, thus continuing the tradition while minimizing environmental effects.