Gumla: Artisans in Jarjatta village celebrated on Wednesday after the traditional mandar percussion instrument received a geographical indication (GI) tag from Govt of India’s GI Registry in Chennai. At Jarjatta panchayat bhawan, villagers joined makers of the instrument as mandar beats echoed across the area, celebrating a deeply rooted tribal craft.Traditionally played during festivals and social occasions, the mandar is linked to the socio-cultural identity of the region’s tribal communities. It is manufactured by artisans of the Ghagi community in Gumla and other districts. More than 300 artisans are associated with the craft, including around 40 from Jarjatta and others from several blocks of Gumla, as well as Lohardaga, Latehar and East Singhbhum.Ghanshyam Nayak, one of the 10 directors of Raidih Mandar Producer Company Ltd, told TOI, “We are very happy to get GI tag for our product. It will usher in a new phase of development of our entrepreneurship benefiting families hugely and our craftsmanship will flourish.”Gumla DC Dileshwar Mahto said the recognition had given Jarjatta’s artisans and their mandar national visibility and would help expand their business. Deputy development commissioner Animesh Ranjan said efforts would now focus on strengthening the company, popularising the handicraft and making the enterprise economically viable so artisans remained associated with it and younger generations joined them.Former Gumla DC Sushant Gaurav initiated efforts to develop a business model for the craft in 2022. A company was subsequently formed, artisans were trained and the handicraft was standardised through research and soil testing. The GI application was filed in 2025, when then DC Karn Satyarthi streamlined the process.Gaurav said the Mandar Producer Group of Jarjatta was formed with artisans as members to ensure community ownership. The land was also identified for a production centre, while the district administration helped create a regular market by distributing cultural and traditional products and using them to welcome guests at district events. He credited the achievement to villagers’ traditional wisdom.
Gumla DC Dileshwar Mahto and DDC Animesh Ranjan play mandar in Gumla
