Brass Artifacts in Goa

The types of crafts in Goa are as diverse as the people who make them. Goa has turned out to be a good competitor in this creative field just like any other art enriched state of India. The crafts in Goa have attained commercial proportions. So the Government of Goa has taken measures to promote the cause by opening complexes for the artisans. Goan handicrafts include pottery, shell work, furniture, brass artifacts, bamboo crafts and paper crafts. However, among all these types, the making of brass artifacts in Goa is a unique handicraft tradition.

The samais is the most popular of the brass artifacts in Goa. Several items are made of brass like oil lamps, candle stands, temple towers, church bells and ashtrays. The craft is traditional in nature and it is quite a market which has been prospering since ages. Since brass ware forms and has always formed a crucial part of the bridal gift – better known as dowry – it is the norm for the parents of brides to present brass-ware of things like kalsa, kalshi, puncharati and ekarati. This is how brass artifacts in Goa originated.

So utensils are made in two different ways for tow different purposes. Utensils for daily use involve the use of sheet metal and brass casting. This tradition of making artifacts from brass is passed on from one generation to the next, so it is a traditional ritual.