Like all other indigenous consortia of Meghalaya, the Garo tribes have depended upon nature both for utility purposes, and even for cultural purposes. One such rich example of the tribal people and their traditional art and sustainable life is the gourd vessel with a constricted neck. A dried gourd makes the gourd vessel. This is a plant which is cultivated and possesses many uses in a tribal society. When a gourd reaches its full length, the moisture inside is drained from it, sun-drying it completely, and, then, it creates a light but sturdy container. Its round body is quite spacious for storage and the long, constricted neck serves for controlled pouring, but what leaps to the eye is undoubtedly its narrow mouth which flares gently at the rim beyond the constricted neck for easy throwing and access.

The vessels are recorded for such degrees of liquids-anything from water to rice beer (called bitchi in Garo) to herbal brews. Moreover, the insulating natures keep the temperature of the contents in the vessels, being an added advantage in the warm and humid climate of Meghalaya as well. Indeed, the gourd vessel is much more than utilitarian; it also has cultural importance and is, thus, usually used in ceremonies, communal leisure time, and at festivals. In effect, using gourd vessels continues to speak to an environmental consciousness and commitment to the continuing legacy of indigenous knowledge systems among the Garo people.