Goan Art of Basket Weaving. (by Alyssa Rebello)

The Mahar community was once upon a time involved fully in basket weaving, often with either very little or no knowledge of basket-making. However, since those days, times have changed and nowadays, one finds members of the Mahar community involved in a wide variety of professions, predominantly in music. In Canacona, at one time, there were plenty of Mahars, however, gradually they have given up the occupation of cane weaving and have settled in other occupations. Many have even moved out of Canacona to greener pastures in the cities and even abroad. Many have even moved out of Canacona to greener pastures in the cities and even abroad. The Mahars, which is a Scheduled Tribe, were shunned by society for many years. The children of mahars could not even get admission in public schools, due to the stigma attached to their status and tribe. They survived by making different items out of cane and bamboo.
In spite of the social stigma, the Mahar community was considered as a very important community, since most of the other traders depended on them for the bamboo and cane implements. Earlier, the Mahars were just sought for their bamboo craft. They were also engaged in activities that were often looked down upon by other communities, like clearing away the carcasses of dead animals and digging graves. The art and craft of bamboo weaving is slowly but certainly dying in Goa. This is because nowadays, most people use plastic or metal containers, and the demand for bamboo articles is on the wane. Faced with discrimination and a skill that is economically not viable, besides a general leap by society to plastic material, the Mahar’s trade has stopped evolving and is quickly dying. This art which is pleasant to behold and also eco-friendly is quickly becoming a thing of the past. It is said that some scheme must be floated to keep the art alive and at the same time help the Mahar community to improve their status and living conditions.