Dekara - Clay Art of Uttarakhand

Special images of Gods and Goddesses were made since idol worship played an important role in the lives of the inhabitants of Garhwal & Kumaon. Dekaras are the clay images of Gods and Goddesses either in relief or in three dimensional from and are meant solely for worship. They are prepared out of fine clay mixed with colour. Then they are coloured with different hues to make them attractive. The festival of Makar Sanskranti is an occasion for making garlands of wild pigeon or Ghugta (which figures prominently in the romantic folk songs of Kumaon) from sweetened wheat flour. On Kartik Sanskranti the images made of Lord Shiva are known as Dekara which depict the marriage of Shiva with Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya.

Arts & Crafts