Dhokra (ଢୋକରା), also spelt Dokra, is a traditional method of casting brass using the lost-wax (cire perdue) technique. It is practised by hereditary metalsmith communities in Odisha and across eastern and central India. Dhokra objects include animal figures, deities, lamps, measuring bowls and jewellery. They have a rough, rope-like surface texture made by threads of wax laid over the model. Every piece is cast in its own clay mould, which is broken after casting, so no two pieces are exactly alike.
Origin and spread
Lost-wax casting in South Asia is very old. The bronze "Dancing Girl" of Mohenjo-daro, from the Indus Valley Civilisation, is one of the best-known early examples. The name "Dhokra" is generally applied to the folk and tribal tradition of lost-wax brass casting in a belt across present-day Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. The tradition was carried by itinerant and settled metalsmith families who made objects for rural ritual and household use.
In Odisha, Dhokra is one of the state's recognised handicrafts. The Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation (Utkalika) sells Dhokra castings as a separate craft category. Odiapedia has not been able to confirm a full, authoritative list of Odisha's Dhokra villages, so none is given here.
How is Dhokra made?
The steps are broadly the same wherever Dhokra is practised:
- Clay core. The artisan shapes a core from clay and lets it dry. This roughly forms the object.
- Wax model. A wax mixture is prepared. Traditionally it is made of beeswax, plant resin and nut oil. It is pressed into thin threads and sheets, which are laid over the core to form the detailed surface. The wax threads give Dhokra its typical coiled and braided look.
- Investment. The wax model is covered with layers of fine clay, then coarser clay. A channel is left for the metal to flow in and the wax to flow out.
- Firing. The mould is heated. The wax melts and runs out, which is why the method is called "lost wax", leaving a hollow the exact shape of the model.
- Pouring. Molten brass, often melted from recycled scrap, is poured into the hot mould.
- Breaking and finishing. Once cool, the clay is broken away. The casting is cleaned, filed and sometimes polished or given an antique finish.
Since the mould is destroyed, each Dhokra piece is a single, unrepeatable casting.
Motifs and forms
Dhokra subjects come from rural and forest life, and from popular religion:
| Form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Animals | Elephants, horses, bullocks, tortoises, fish, peacocks, owls |
| Human figures | Drummers, dancers, tribal couples, mothers with children |
| Deities | Folk and Hindu deities |
| Ritual and household objects | Oil lamps (diya), measuring bowls, boxes, bells |
| Jewellery | Pendants, anklets, bangles and beads |
GI status
Odisha's Dhokra does not have a Geographical Indication. The GI Registry's state-wise list of registered GIs, dated 31 December 2025, includes Dhokra GIs only for Bastar Dhokra (Chhattisgarh), Adilabad Dokra (Telangana) and Bengal Dokra (West Bengal). There is none for Odisha. A Dhokra piece made in Odisha can still be fully authentic. It simply has no GI-protected name.
See the full list of GI tags of Odisha for the crafts that are registered.
Artisan communities
Dhokra has traditionally been the hereditary work of specific metalsmith communities, who travelled from village to village or settled near markets. In Odisha and elsewhere, many of these families now work through artisan clusters, self-help groups and cooperatives that sell to state emporia and craft fairs. The craft depends on scrap brass, fuel for firing and clay. Artisans' incomes are sensitive to changes in metal prices.
How to buy authentic Dhokra
- Check the surface. Handmade Dhokra shows the fine coils and threads of the original wax work, with small irregularities. Smooth, perfectly identical pieces are more likely to be machine-cast copies.
- Feel the weight. Solid or thick-walled brass castings feel heavy for their size. Very light pieces may be hollow alloy or resin imitations.
- Ask where it was made. Since Odisha Dhokra has no GI, ask the seller to name the artisan cluster or cooperative.
- Buy from official outlets. Utkalika, the Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation (utkalikaodisha.com), sells Dhokra castings made in Odisha through its showrooms and online store.
You can also see Odiapedia's curated authentic Odisha products.