The Dati is an old round bamboo tray commonly used by the Rabha tribes who are aboriginal in Assam and a part of Meghalaya. The Rabha are the people who maintain their life with sustainable views and bamboo craftsmanship, turning locally available resources into household implements, practical and beautiful.This bamboo tray is characterized by an almost-flat circular shape with slightly raised edges. Its making technique shows the prowess of the Rabha tribes with natural materials. The rim consists of four flat thick bamboo strips and is fastened to the body of the tray using strips of bamboo skin. Additional bamboo skin is used to strengthen the structure and allow for flexibility. The raised rim prevents spillage, thus the Dati can be used for sorting grains, vegetables, or serving food during communal and ritual gatherings.
Such trays in Rabha households are used in the preparation of food, marketing of produce through winnowing, and ceremonial functions. Its design may be very simple but highly efficient, embodying the ecological wisdom of the community and their harmonious existence with nature. Bamboo, which is abundant in the region, is the backbone of the constituent link in their material culture.Moreover, the tray, currently in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, represents the artistic skill and culture of the Rabha tribe, where two intersecting worlds of utility and craft meet in tribal artifacts, thereby forming the repository of everyday life and cultural identity.