‘Surahi’ a traditional pot to serve water or liquor of Usta Community has been showcased under popular museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya on Wednesday. Exhibit, collected from Bikaner, Rajasthan, is on display in indoor exhibition building – Veethi Sankul. The exhibit of the month was inaugurated by Director IGRMS, Dr P K Mishra. This exhibit of the month had been composed and collected by Museum Associate, Garima Anand Dubey. About the exhibit displayed in the exhibition Museum Associate, Garima Anand Dubey, said that Surahi, a water or liquor serving pot originating in Bikaner, Rajasthan, is an artistic and ornamental object as well as a magnificent example of Usta artists’ aesthetic sensibility and creative abilities in their particular domains.

 

Most attractive aspect of the object is its shape and material used for ornamentation. Indeed, it is a beautiful combination of two art forms (1) molding leather into a pot neatly and (2) the ornamentation after carving out the same and that is why we can say that painting with natural colours and gold foil by Usta art and the pattern used on this 'Surahi' made up of camel hide shows its royal affiliation and the cultural community fusion and glorious architecture of Rajasthan, including Bikaner. The word ‘Usta’ is derived from the Persian word 'Ustad,' which means to be the master or being versatile in a particular art form or discipline. Therefore, it is obvious that Usta Art is distinct from common art traditions and directly associated with the workmanship of skilful hands.