Craft Name: Bell Metal Craft (Ghantadi)
Region: Kutch District, Gujarat
CRAFT
HISTORY
Bell metal craft of Kutch, locally known as Ghantadi is a traditional metal-casting and forging craft practiced for centuries by the Lohar (blacksmith) and Luhar communities. Historically, bells were made for pastoral communities such as the Rabari, Jat, Maldhari, who needed durable bells for identifying cattle, goats, buffaloes, and camels grazing in the Banni grasslands.
Migrant communities from Sindh are believed to have brought the technique to Kutch several generations ago.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
- Unlike cast bells found in other parts of India, Kutch bells are hand-forged from scrap metal, shaped without moulds, and tuned individually to produce a specific musical note.
- Made from recycled iron and copper-coated sheet metal.
- Each bell has a unique shape, sound, pitch, and wooden clapper.
Received a
GI tag in 2023
COLOURS
- Natural metallic tones: warm gold, copper, bronze
- Darkened burnt edges from furnace firing
- Subtle variations from copper/brass coating
How much time does it take to make a product, and how many artisans are involved in the process?
A Bell Metal item generally takes 3–10 days to produce, requiring 2–5 artisans in the process
MOTIFS & PATTERNS
- Geometric punched marks
- Rhythmic indentations created with chisels
- Decorative rings around the bell body
- Cloth or rope loops for hanging
RAW MATERIAL
- Scrap iron sheets
- Copper or brass powder for coating
- Natural varnish
- Wooden clappers
- Bhusa (agricultural husk) for furnace fuel
- Clay and cotton rags for coating
CRAFT MAKING PROCESS
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC CRAFT
- Sound Quality: Authentic Kutch bells have a clear, resonant, melodious tone
- Hand-Forged Texture: Look for subtle irregularities from hammering, not perfect machine symmetry.
- Copper/Brass Coating: Real bells show natural colour variations and burn marks from firing.
- Wooden Clapper: Genuine bells have hand-carved wooden clappers, not plastic or metal ones.