The cane, being freely available in the area, has been chosen as the primary material for making the basket. The baskets need to be lightweight in handling and yet strong enough and flexible to perform the functions for which they are made. The painstaking artistry consists of ornamentation as finely split strips of cane are woven in and out to create an elegantly smooth surface and a perfectly symmetrical body. Following basket formation, artisans paint the surface freehand, utilising natural dye or pigment colours, often with a bold contrast. These designs painted onto the artifacts are not only statements of aesthetic fluidity but may also represent cultural or spiritual sentiments relative to Khampti traditions of Buddhism.