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The Ka-Wait Prat, also known as the Pruning Dao, is a traditional cutting implement from the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya. This tool represents the deep insight of the community into practical design, forged for daily use in agriculture and forest-based living. It has a curved iron blade with a cutting edge shaped like a semi-circle that is immediately sharp for pruning through vegetation, small branches, and underbrush. The blunt edge is also curved, giving it a balanced form and weight. The blade is attached to a handle of wood that is cylindrical yet slightly flat, grip stability and comfort being thus afforded for control over movement. A plaited cane band is wound about the top part of the handle, reinforcing the structure where the blade's tang is inset into it, as well as representing a traditional decorative feature. The tool’s curvature and ergonomic handle speak to the Khasi people's close relationship with nature, where such implements play a vital role in sustainably-evolved livelihood. Much of this tool is still used in some rural areas today; however, it is largely recognized as an ethnographic artifact of the workmanship and cultural heritage of the Khasi.
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The Ka-Wait Prat, also known as the Pruning Dao, is a traditional cutting implement from the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya. This tool represents the deep insight of the community into practical design, forged for daily use in agriculture and forest-based living. It has a curved iron blade with a cutting edge shaped like a semi-circle that is immediately sharp for pruning through vegetation, small branches, and underbrush. The blunt edge is also curved, giving it a balanced form and weight. The blade is attached to a handle of wood that is cylindrical yet slightly flat, grip stability and comfort being thus afforded for control over movement. A plaited cane band is wound about the top part of the handle, reinforcing the structure where the blade's tang is inset into it, as well as representing a traditional decorative feature. The tool’s curvature and ergonomic handle speak to the Khasi people's close relationship with nature, where such implements play a vital role in sustainably-evolved livelihood. Much of this tool is still used in some rural areas today; however, it is largely recognized as an ethnographic artifact of the workmanship and cultural heritage of the Khasi.
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