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In the scorching and grimy plains of north India, chiks have conventionally been used to shut out the dust in addition to the blind warmth of the sizzling summer afternoons and, therefore, to keep the indoors cool. This concurrently utilitarian and ornamental craft uses also bamboo or sarkhanda/ sirki grass as its foundation substance. Sarkhanda is a variety of grass that grows up to 12 to 15 feet during the monsoon months. The lower stem is known as sarkhanda whereas the higher portion is called sirki. Chiks were used extensively during Mughal period as screens and as division in the zenana (women's quarters). The long-established craft has its extraction in the districts of Aligarh, Gwalior, and Agra. More than the years, the crafts has drifted to Delhi in hunt of markets.
To craft the bamboo chiks the craftsmen initially tear the bamboo into fine sticks, the sticks are then wiped on to a rigid surface to attain a even finish. The bamboo is then all set to be weaved on the chik-making loom. Coloured or white cotton warp is used among the bamboo weft. The weaving is completed in a fret like design in order that a fine chik when suspended at the window looks exceptionally elusive. The chiks are ultimately edging through cotton tape and a support of fabric is over and over again presented to reinforce them and let for better fortification from the sun.
The practitioners of this craft habitually produce goods on the basis of requisite condition. The designs are named in accordance with their shape, the repertoire comprises the barfi jaal (rectangle), choori jaal (bangle), makdi jaal, and glass jaal. Of late, chiks are fitting accepted replacement for fabric curtains in metropolitan homes. Subsequently, the crafts people are building upon the model repertoire and bringing in modernism for instance cutouts, dyed bamboo sticks, printed cloth backings, and decorative tassels.
