The Tapa is a conventional bamboo basket used by Khond Tribe of Odisha. It is a value not only in its usefulness but in the context of culture itself. A product of split bamboo, Tapa has a square base of four distinct corners and an opening circular shape at the top that ensures stability and easy access.
With its main purpose of keeping seeds while sowing in the agricultural fields, the basket has implication on cultivation season. Carrying small household items is another function that makes it an everyday item in tribal life. The shape enables a convenient way of carrying, hanging by the hand or slung on the shoulder with a strap.Half-colored indicates the other half of the mouth of the Tapa-basket, which is entirely designed. Half of the body of the basket is decorated with colors, mostly made from natural dyes. These colors serve not only for aesthetics but also for symbolism relating to tribal faiths of fertility, prosperity, or the agricultural cycle. The decorated part gives this basket a visual appeal unique to it and itself differs from plain utility baskets.The Khond, who have been using traditional knowledge to live with the forests and harness nature sustainably, weave these baskets. Each Tapa is reflective of functionality, tradition, and cultural identity which is a general reflection of the deep-rooted sense of the Khond about their land and lifestyles.