The traditional wooden shield is known as Dhal, which is a significant and functional non-defensive tool of the Karbi, an indigenous tribe mainly in Assam, northeast India. The skills mastered in the craft, resourcefulness and the martial tradition of the people reflected in the shield. Karbis are typical of their cultural identity and making weapons and other traditional tools. This circular shield is made fully of wood with both sturdily and light enough to allow practical use during fighting as well as display on ceremonies. Copper-made designed pieces affixed artistically enhance both aesthetic appeal and strength against defense on the outer (dorsal) surface. These copper adornments evoke both status and sensitivity to art as well as reinforce against direct strike impacts.
On the ventral (inner) surface is fixed a curved iron handle secure to the shield. This handle is wrapped in finely woven cane strips, giving a solid yet comfortable grip for the wielder. Both surfaces of the shield receive lacquer in black which gives them a polished, durable finish, and protects the wood against weathering and other forms of destruction over time. The Dhal was mostly used by Kabri in tribal warfare and during important ceremonial functions too; it served as a protective instrument as well as an emblem of bravery. The Dhal, however, remains an important cultural relic of the Kabri tribe, acting as a mark of his cultural heritage, warrior ethos and traditional craftsmanship.