Katha (story behind artefact): The elephant has a long history of wisdom in Hindu mythology, immortalised through metal in the Dokra style. Used by gods and royals alike to travel, the elephant signifies opulence, as seen through Padmakin’s intricate detailing and the razai on its back, patchworked in the Jali style of metal-casting. Its long-standing memory and intelligent empathy are perfectly illustrated by the Dokra style, because the latter is a symbol of the past too; remembering times gone by through this ancient art. Invoke the enduring opulence of the Padmakin and let it serve as an ideal of aspiration!
Riti (method): The Dokra method of metal-casting has been honed through millennia, primarily using wax moulds. The famous Jali technique (Jali translates to ‘net’, denoting the intricate linework of the patches cast into the structure of the artefact) has a similarly impressive past. Learn more about this rich history of Dokra in this blog!