INLAY: Mysore's traditional handicraft work at Bahuroopi

MYSORE: The Bahuroopi national theatre festival has on display a variety of handicrafts and art work from across the country for art lovers. Miniature bronze, metal idols, wood works and paintings have been drawing the attention of visitors and art lovers alike.

Amid the bustle of the festival and the exhibition, a woman is seen working with wood at a stall is almost unnoticed. With a 'bow' machine in her hand, she is seen designing and drawing images and patterns on rose wood. The woman, an artist, is Vasantha N K and she is involved in "inlay work", Mysore's traditional intricate wood work.

Speaking about the traditional work, she says: "This intricate work involves many stages. The work starts with a detailed sketch of the product having dimensions and scales. The next step is to design and draw images on rose wood. The paper is placed on rose wood and cut into designs by carpentry using an instrument called bow. The motifs to be inlaid are carefully hand cut to shape. Areas where motifs have to be inlaid on rosewood are scooped out. Motifs are inlaid and fixed and wood is then smoothened with sandpaper and polished."

Vasantha is involved in all stages of inlay work except the last stage of smoothening and polishing. It takes two hours to prepare this wood work. Five wood works of 24X36 cm length can be produced every day, she says.

There are two more stalls which sell the final polished inlay works. The famous designs include: a dancing pose of Radha-Krishna, dancing Ganesha, Krishna preaching Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna during Kurukshetra, Vishnu's Dashavatara, Gajalakshmi and other 3D images.

The price of these products range from Rs 300 to more than Rs 1000 depending on the design and length of inlay. Other typical articles made with inlay work are furniture, boxes, pen stands, bowls and panels.