Sadeibareni Village of Dokra

The Bell Metal or Dokra art of Sadeibareni village has put Dhenkanal district in Odisha in the world map. Sadeiberini Village, 5 km from Saptasajya in Dhenkanal, is home to 45 families with 130-odd artisans, all belonging to SC and ST categories who are mostly into creating Dokra handicraft, which dates back to pre-historic time of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro period of Indus Valley Civilization. The process of making Dokra is fascinating and only natural raw materials are used. Traditional Dokra is a typical tribal craft in bronze with its mesh like features giving it a distinctive beauty. Interestingly, the handicraft is still prepared by hand without involvement of any machines. Artisans of this village have been invited to international level workshops and seminars on art on several occasions in the past because of their expertise. They have a vast repertoire―gods and goddesses, tribal and animal figurines, vases, door handles, and photo-frames. Curious visitors can also go round the houses and get a first-hand experience of making the craft from the artisans, who are willing to explain the preparation process. Dhenkanal is a little over 70 km from Bhubaneswar and can be approached by taxis or trains. The best time to visit the village is between October and January. If visiting between October and November, one can also go around Dhenkanal town to witness the Laxmi Puja, which enjoys a special place in the cultural map of the district.