This rectangular wooden vessel is one of the typical object-uses of the Rabha tribe of Assam. The vessel is carved out of one block of wood, reflecting the woodworking skills of the tribe, from time immemorial, complemented by their sustainable exploitation of forest resources. The vessel, with a broad rectangular opening and flat bottom, has been made utility-oriented, stable, and user-friendly. The design is simple: the opening is longer than the base, thus allowing more holding capacity while keeping its stability when placed on different surfaces. It was mainly used for storing grains, liquids, or other household items and occasionally into rituals at tribal ceremonies or community feasts.
Members of the Rabha community live in harmony with Mother Nature and traditionally shaped this vessel without resorting to any industrial techniques or mechanization. Despite its spare and unassuming appearance, this object testifies to the indigenous sense of utility and dexterity. It attests to the Rabhas' close relationship with natural materials and their talent for transforming them into enduring functional articles. This wooden vessel is now in the Indian Museum, in Kolkata, where it stands, testifying to the material culture and daily life of the Rabha tribe. The vessel symbolizes creativity and craftsmanship that thrive in the tribal communities of India, and it is a stark reminder of the need to preserve such knowledge systems.