The Gaoni is a measuring bamboo basket traditionally made by the Khond Tribe of Odisha, representing an interesting balance between utility and aesthetic culture. This basket is made from finely split bamboo strips with a square base having four corners for stability and a circular pouring mouth for handling. The Gaoni is traditionally used as a beautification object, decorating the tribe's utility objects with natural colors representing their aesthetic sense and cultural values. The decorations may include earth pigments and traditional motifs denoting tribal identity, seasonal symbolism, or clan association.
Primarily used for the measurement of grains and agricultural produce during harvest and marketing, the Gaoni in a community largely dependent on oral traditions and manual methods plays a crucial role in promoting fairness, standardization, and trust among villagers. It stands as a traditional measuring tool with fixed size and volume.
It is the handiwork of skilled artisans with a sound understanding of bamboo properties-a knowledge that has been passed down for generations in the Khond community. The use of entirely natural and sustainable materials like bamboo signifies the Khond' deep-rooted synergy with the forest environment surrounding them.
As far as symbolism goes, the Gaoni has come to embody tribal wisdom, practicality, and self-reliance, thereby representing how the Khond have managed to sustain a long-standing practice of fine-tuning traditional with functional in their daily lives.