POLANG AND THUMOK:





















            
          POLANG






 















                
                THUMOK


Polang and thumok are the baskets which is made by bamboo.
The bamboos which are used in making polang and thumok are mainly collected from dense forests which involves trekking through unfriendly terrain.

After the bamboos are collected from the forest, these are cut into fine pieces (locally known as Paya). Thumok, Polang are made by interweaving the Payas each other. However, craft maker can complete making Thumok in a day.
The finished products are then distributed through local woman traders for sale at Imphal market and every district market. Polangs (hamper) are used for storing vegetables and rice etc.

 

 A bamboo craftsman who intends to make Thumok (basket)and Polang  cuts up the whole bamboo poles into many pieces. The cut bamboo pieces are then divided vertically into two. The divided halves are again split vertically into two which is locally known as wachets. The hard outer layer of the split bamboo is removed by scrapping with a Thangjou (Machete) while it is still wet. The protruding parts on the nodes are also removed. The wachet is split vertically into several pieces to form payas. The payas are directly and closely interwoven each other to make baskets and other items.