{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}} 200px|thumb|Sikki grass handicrafts '''Sikki grass crafts''' are various handicrafts that are made from a special kind of grass known as sikki found in the Mithilanchal of India and Nepal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umsas.org/en/bihar-arts-crafts/sikki-craft/ |title=Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan | Sikki Craft |accessdate=2013-12-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227072459/http://www.umsas.org/en/bihar-arts-crafts/sikki-craft/ |archivedate=2013-12-27 }}</ref> The art of making items from sikki grass is an ancient one .
== History == Tharu women in the southern plains of Nepal have been weaving traditional baskets from sikki grass for centuries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.farwestnepal.org/local-arts-and-crafts/|title=Local arts and crafts|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007034200/https://www.farwestnepal.org/local-arts-and-crafts/|archive-date=7 October 2019|access-date=}}</ref> Nowadays, many Tharu women are engaged in producing sikki handicrafts through collaborative networks. Dhakiyas which are also known as Mauni, Daliya depending upon the place are baskets made from sikki or moonj grass plays an important role in everyday household activities of the Tharu community. Dhakiya has been used in every rituals of Tharu community from the birth to death. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Central Department of Sociology Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal |first=Babu Ram Tharu |title=Handicraft Making Practices of Dangaura Tharu: A Study of Hariharpur Village of Banke District, Nepal |url=https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/bitstream/123456789/16800/1/Full%20thesis.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhuju |first=Kriti |title=Tharu sikki / thatch grass / mujella {{!}} The Encyclopedia of Crafts in WCC-Asia Pacific Region (EC-APR) |url=https://encyclocraftsapr.com/tharu-sikki-thatch-grass-mujella/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Procedure== Sikki is dried and the flower head is cut off. The resulting fine golden fibre is used in weaving to make toys, dolls, and baskets (''dolchi''). Items are sometimes painted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-05 |title=Step-by-Step Sikki Grass Work in Bihar 2021 - Swadesi |url=https://swadesi.org/bihar-sikki-handicraft/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Boxes made of sikki known as ''pauti'' are given to daughters by parents on the occasion of their wedding. The boxes are used to hold ''sindoor'', ornaments, and jewellery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-05 |title=Sikki |url=https://gaatha.com/sikki-grass-craft-bihar/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=gaatha.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Famous Artists== Meera Thakur in India practices and teaches sikki grass craft. She has received the Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts from UNESCO and the Nari Shakti Puraskar.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Bihar}}
Category:Tharu culture Category:Nepal Category:Fine Arts of Bihar Category:Indian handicrafts Category:Geographical indications in Bihar