Doko “A traditional Nepalese Bamboo Basket”
Doko a traditional Bamboo basket. It was used with a shoulder strap or a head strap called Namlo used in rural areas to carry goods from one place to another. As we can say in the early times there were hardly a transport or motor roads to carry out goods, at that time this Bamboo basket (Doko) were used as a container or basket to carry goods and also for other services by the people in early days. People used to carry all sorts of goods for eg. Food items, utensils and even they used to carry sick person, or a disabled person (person who cannot walk) to take them to hospital for treatment. People actually used it for different purposes in early days, because of its durability and sometimes they even used as a temporary cage for animals. This Bamboo Basket (Doko) production was a good source of income for the people, as in the rural areas or villages in early days old people made this Bamboo Basket (Doko) as we can say it was a traditional practice of home made goods and basically to fritter away the time as there was no mode of entertainment ( for eg. Television) and people made a livelihood selling these products (Doko). It was a traditional practice which they passed it on to their family members form ages to ages. And still this tradition is alive in the rural areas or villages of different parts of Nepal and also in the North East region of India (Darjeeling, Kurseong). We can still see the people using Bamboo Basket ( Doko) for fetching water from the sources by placing the water pot firmly inside it and people can be seen carrying fire woods(purpose of cooking) and forage (for their cattle’s) till date. It was and still is one of the convenient ways of carrying loads by the porters.
While describing about this unique and beautiful Bamboo Basket (Doko), I would like to share a memory from my yester years when I used to visit my maternal grandparents place (Makaibari Tea Estate) at that time me, my cousin brother and his friends used to visit the forest area and go for swimming in small river (natural swimming areas) we used to carry our extra clothes and some food items inside the Bamboo Basket ( Doko) and while returning back to home we used to bring a little bit of fire woods,Mushrooms andGooseberry locally known in Nepali as “Paani Amala” and we used to packed those eating items in a banana leaf and put inside the Bamboo Basket ( Doko). Sometimes we used as a stool to sit on top up it. Well, lastly I just want to say, that we Nepalese have a sentimental touch with this traditional item Bamboo Basket ( Doko) because it symbolize the culture and tradition of Nepalese people.
How Bamboo Basket is made ?
Doko (Bamboo Basket) is made of green bamboo strips and is manually hand woven in a conical or V-shaped. It is believed that bamboo is durable and withstands harsh weathers.
Well Guys more to come, stay in touch till then take care and good bye……
Originally published at https://kurseonghill.blogspot.com.