Bamboo Incense Stick Cluster, Nalbari - Design Clinic Scheme

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Incense making in Tihu, Nalbari Incense sticks or agarbattis in India are hand-rolled following a simple process, and requiring minimum tool usage. The raw materials for agarbattis or dhupkathis, are it is locally known in the north-eastern states of India, consist of a bamboo stick core and the masala, which is a mixure of powdered ingredients. Sawing bamboo culm with a hacksaw Sawn off bamboo The core of the incense stick is made of split, sliced and sized bamboo, and is of two types - a square section and a round section, each approximately 1.5mm-2mm and 3mm thick, and in lengths of either 8” (203.2mm) or 9” (228.6mm). The square sticks are made manually with ease; consequently, the greater part of the incense sticks manufactured here, have a core stick with a square cross section. Round sticks are supplied to Tihu by a factory based in Sonapur, near Guwahati. Lengthwise splitting using a ‘dao’ Splitting along the plane using a ‘katari’ The masala is a mixture composed of a binding agent, an oxidising agent and may or may not include the aromatic substance. Incense sticks made without the addition of the aromatic substance, are called raw sticks, and are scented by either dipping them into a solution containing the aromatic substances or by the spraying of the same onto the raw sticks. Popular aromas in India are sandalwood, jasmine, champa (magnolia), lavender and rose. Incense sticks manufactured in Nalbari are raw sticks, which are sold wholesale to buyers in Guwahati. Sizing into sticks with a ‘katari’ Sticks, finished and unfinished, bound in 1/2 kg bundles The binding agent is composed of the powdered leaves and bark from various local plants and trees, and the oxidising agent is charcoal powder. The powdered leaves and bark are collectively called jigat, which is a term originally used for the powered bark of the tree, Machilus macrantha. However, it seems to be used by the locals to describe the powders derived from other local plants and trees, such as teak (Tectona grandis), the tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) and amar lati or bougainvillea (Cuscuta reflexa). 12 N.A.S for Bamboo Incense Stick Cluster, Nalbari | 2013 | Mridul Mitra, Design Consultant | Email: mridul.mitra@gmail.com
Bamboo culm is sawed into lengths of 8” and 9” using a hacksaw and is then split lengthwise into eight pieces, using a an instrument called a dao, similar to a billhook. Each of these pieces are then sliced along the plane into into slices of 2mm to 3mm, using a small knife called a katari. The slices are held together in a stack, and, using the katari, further sliced into slivers of a cross section of approximately 2mm x 2mm, and lengths of either 8” or 9”. Once the sticks are cut, it moves into the next stage - rolling, known locally as leping, where a mixture of the powdered plant material and charcoal powder is rolled onto the stick. Kneading powdered mix into a dough Rolling the dough into a cylinder The powdered mixture, comprising jigat powder and powdered bark and leaves of certain trees, is sold or supplied to the local units, where it is mixed with a proportionate quantity of water to form sticky dough. The dough is rolled onto the bamboo stick core with a dab of charcoal powder which acts as fuel to keep the stick burning. The rolling process is hand-done by the women of the units, on a small worktable with dimensions approximating 14”x 9”x 4”, on which a small amount of charcoal powder is also present. A quantity of the kneaded mixture is placed on the work-table, a portion is broken off and hand-rolled with one palm into a long, thin cylinder. A bamboo stick held in the other hand is placed on the table and the cylinder of masala is worked onto it. They are then laid to dry for a minimum of four to six hours, bundled into 1/2 kilogram packs and sold to the Bahumukhi Incense Stick Product company. Rolling the ‘masala’ onto a bamboo stick Stick with the ‘masala’ rolled on The units also produce bamboo sticks which they sell to the BISP. The company also employs it own staff for the above activities. In addition the BISP also owns a number of machines for the pulverising and powdering of the raw ingredients and for the cutting, slicing, slivering and sizing of bamboo. The charcoal is imported from Hyderabad, and powdered in the BISP factory. Drying of the rolled sticks Tools for the splitting and sizing of bamboo N.A.S for Bamboo Incense Stick Cluster, Nalbari | 2013 | Mridul Mitra, Design Consultant | Email: mridul.mitra@gmail.com 13
Page 1 and 2: Bamboo Incense Stick Cluster, Nalba
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements My experience of c
Page 5 and 6: Abstract The project Bamboo Incense
Page 7 and 8: Incense or agarbatti in India Incen
Page 9 and 10: About Tihu town and the cluster A c
Page 11: Introduction to Incense Incense is
Page 15 and 16: List of regular employees Podumi De
Page 17 and 18: Topic Layout Workstations, Workspac
Page 19 and 20: Poor storekeeping - lack of order.
Page 21 and 22: Storage areas like these can have s
Page 23 and 24: Poor cleaning practices Workers in
Page 25 and 26: Square-core stick making machine. I
Page 27 and 28: Unit 2 - The Northeast Incense Powd
Page 29 and 30: Topic Workspace and Ergonomics Mach
Page 31 and 32: Bamboo slicer Slicer in action Tabl
Page 33 and 34: Storage directly on floor - can pla
Page 35 and 36: Poor access to stored material Can
Page 37 and 38: List of regular employees No. Name
Page 39 and 40: Topic Layout Observations • Work
Page 41 and 42: Lack of space to comfortably accomo
Page 43 and 44: List of employees involved in both,
Page 45 and 46: Topic Layout Workstations, Workspac
Page 47 and 48: Storage shed for cut bamboo Tools u
Page 49 and 50: Unit 5 - Saujhi Self Help Group Con
Page 51 and 52: Resultant sticks mostly of equal le
Page 53 and 54: Bamboo slicing machines Circular sa
Page 55 and 56: Study of scented sticks from the wh
Page 57 and 58: Proposals for product development f
Page 59 and 60: No change in designs Lack of storag
Page 61 and 62: Products suspended from the ceiling
Page 63 and 64:
Observations and suggestions on the
Page 65 and 66:
Unit 9 - Sunita Cycle Stand Observa
Page 67 and 68:
Small wholesale dealer, main Fancy
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Brands on display at wholsale store
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Observations REGIONAL Suggestions
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Suggestions on the improvement of t
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Suggested Future Initiatives In 6 m
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List of handicraft artisans, Nalbar
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Introduction to the MSME unit The B
Page 81 and 82:
Design Awareness Programme (Need As
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List of workers under each Agarbatt
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Bamboo Incense Stick Cluster, Nalbari - Design Clinic Scheme

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