The crafts made of ‘sikki’ grass will be displayed as a theme of Bihar tableau (मूक झाँकी ) during the January 26, 2013 Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi.

The sikki grass articles made by women of north Bihar are entirely different from anything else, which you see in any other part of the country. They transport you into another world. As the very name indicates, sikki is a plant, which automatically grows by the riverside or roadside of rural area. The places where there is moisture are also suitable for the growth of this plant.
After the rains, it is cut down and divided into thin pieces and preserved in the house for use throughout the year. Though it has its own golden colour, which is very attractive but the village women also dye the grass in red, black, blue and green colours to give the articles made of this – a presentable look.

According to reports at least 20-25 people, working under designer R S Bhatnagar & Sons, are busy giving finishing touches to the crafts. A special two-minute music has also been composed exclusively for the tableau.

Designer P K Bhatnagar, was quoted in the Times of India as saying “The total cost of the project will be Rs 17 lakh. More than half a dozen artists from Darbhanga will display their work.”

Reports also said initially there were more than 50 tableaus but the selection committee picked up only 19 of them from 14 states for display at Rajpath.

“The proposal to select this craft as the theme for Bihar’s tableau on Republic Day was accepted recently by the selection committee of the ministry of defence,” information and public relations department (IPRD) director of Bihar, Durgesh Nandan, told the daily.

Sikki is a kind of a grass-like weed that grows on the banks of river, especially in the Mithila region. The weeds, collected by village women, are put under the sun to get dried. Thereafter, the dried weeds are twisted into ropes which can be mould into any shape like baskets, bags, hats and even intricate animal, bird and human figures.

These ropes are then made into baskets and other such items. In order to strengthen the baskets, the artisans use strands of the same sikki grasses. 

Sikki craft of Bihar are extremely environment friendly and exclusive and are loved by one and all.