This is a squarish basket with four stout corners, and it is one of the traditional crafts of the Binjhal, an indigenous community that is mainly found in the state of Odisha in eastern India. The community is largely less known for its basket making skills, and this type of basket is one fine example that showcases the skills of the tribes in making use of local materials such as bamboo to create much functional and durable products. Flat bamboo strips are used-wise for the construction of this basket, whereby weaving technique is applied with a close elbow to assure strength and flexibility in its entire body. The opening of the basket is squarish and therefore efficient and easy for storing or carrying purposes. A bamboo split is inserted at the edges for the maintenance of the shape during working conditions and to add sturdiness to the structure along with extra toughness. The base area of the basket having a squarish shape also demands the conclusion of having four conspicuous corners, which would stabilize the overall basket construction and thus render it handy for daily use. This shape makes the basket well-balanced and able to stay put when placed on a flat surface to protect its contents.
This squarish basket is employed by the Binjhal tribe mainly for domestic purposes like storing grains, carrying food, and organizing other household items. The design is as functional as aesthetically alluring since the care exhibited through the weaving coupled with its corners reveals the care and craftsmanship of the tribe. Thus, this definitely ties in prominently with the day-to-day workings and cultural events of the Binjhal, and the skills are slowly being passed down as the craftsmanship pertaining to it sustains itself through generations, safeguarding skills and heritage of the tribe.