INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE -Traditional Brass and Copper craft of Utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru in Punjab, included in 2014

This is an oral tradition that is passed on to generations of the ‘Thathera’ community. The metals are heated and moulded into thin plates with curved shapes. The utensils have functional as well as ritualistic purpose. Metals used are brass, copper and Kansa (an alloy of zinc, tin and copper). It is recommended for medicinal purposes in several Ayurveda texts. It was patronized and encouraged by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century. The utensils are of wide variety like those used in household and community kitchens (langar) of Sikh Gurudwaras.