A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration (a city/town/few adjacent village and their adjoining areas) of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats. An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated (mostly in villages/townships) household units producing handicraft/handloom products. In a typical cluster, such producers often belong to a traditional community, producing the long-established products for generations. Indeed, many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Manapur Cluster:-

Manapur Cluster falls under Chattisgarh State in Rajnandgoan district.

The Manapur cluster is able to form 500 plus Artisans & 50 SHGs supporting the strong work force. The mobilization gains momentum day by day.

Metal Craft:-

Metal wire inlay work, tarakashi, initially originated in Mainpuri in UP. It flourished under the patronage of Nawabs. Initially it was used for khadaon (wooden sandals).

Inlay is a means of ornamentation of a surface by setting of other materials into it. In wood inlay mainly brass or copper wires are used. The designs are traditional, depicting flora, fauna and geometrical patterns including the varieties of the jali designs.With the ban on ivory, the plastic sheets began to be used as inlay material. In Mainpuri tradition copper, brass and silver wire were twisted together, beaten with the hammer and flattened before inlaying. This gave three colour design specs on the inlayed surface.

Raw Materials:-

Basic Material : Ebony wood, shisham wood.
Decorative Material : Brass wire, copper wire, ivory, plastic.

Tools:-

Hand saw, flammer, chisel, wooden mallet, files.

Process:-

Inlay is a means of ornamentation of a surface by the setting of other materials into it. Mainly brass or copper wires are used in wood inlay. After cutting the wood from a bigger block in the desired size, a pattern originally traced on a paper, is transferred onto the wood. Copper or brass metal is beaten into thin sheets and cut into fine wire. The design traced on the wooden surface is incised with the aid of a hammer and chisel which is held lightly and tapped with a mallet. The brass or copper wire is hammered into the engraved portion of the design. If ivory is to be inlaid, then, ivory pieces of required shape and size are cut by a saw and fixed with glue at the desired places in the design. After inlay with brass wire or ivory, the wood is smoothened with a file and polished to give a better finish.

Techniques:-

1.Inlay

2.Cutting

3.Smoothing

4.Polished

How to Reach:-

By Air:-

Chhattisgarh has a domestic airport, which is linked, to almost all major airports in the country. Indian Airlines operates regular flights to and from Raipur.

By Road :-

The road-network in Chhattisgarh is excellent. The National Highways (NH) 6, 16 and 43 connect all the major cities and towns of Chhattisgarh to other parts of the country.

By Train:-

Two major railway stations in Chhattisgarh - Raipur and Bilaspur - connect the major railway stations in India. Since Raipur comes almost in the middle point between Mumbai and Howrah, two most important railway stations in west and east India respectively, it is served by important trains regularly.