It’s rightly said that ‘The soul of India lives in its villages.’ The village of Aminda Rangsa has revived its soul with the artistic expression of Handum Marak. With his astonishing art skills, he attracted not only art lovers but a manifold of tourists to the heritage village of Meghalaya. 

Who is Handum Marak?

Handum Marak is merely a craftsman who went beyond measures to give his village the recognition it deserves. Whether it is stone or wood carving, he managed to mold them into beautiful sculptures. He displayed a variety of such sculptures in a park created by the village itself. Handum is recognized widely for his dedication and talent in the world of art. He makes a living by selling some of his wood and stone crafts to the tourists.

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The Art of Wood Carving

The dying art of wood carving can revive with the help of such artists. Many agencies and villagers played a major role in contributing funds to build the park. They value the immense patience and skills it takes to carve art into the wood. Handum Marak’s abstract art speaks strongly to society. Rather than creating small designs or patterns on wood, he made life-size sculptures. The concept of each art is unique and holds a certain significance to society. It is difficult to analyze the true meaning of it but here are a few viewpoints we can consider.

1. The Mother- A wood carving of a mother with her child timidly hiding behind her. This artwork speaks about the nature of every child to feel protected by their mother’s touch. The fine work of detailing makes it a realistic piece of art for people to connect to. 

2. A Hidden Face

This piece is an emotionally refreshing one. For instance, the face carved within the tree looks like mother nature trying to speak through the woods. One can recognize the brilliance of such simple yet expressive art. 

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Moreover, there are several other creative sculptures presented in the village similar to these artworks by Handum. He appreciates how tourists spend ample time admiring them. With each craft, he plans to reach a higher level of creativity. 

Meghalaya’s Tourist Attraction

The efforts of Handum Marak made Aminda- the heritage village of Meghalaya, an art attraction in Meghalaya. The village is located in the West Garo Hills and has a population of solely 200 people. Yet they make sure to adhere to the common goal of promoting the art and heritage of their village. 

Eco-friendly Village: Aminda Rangsa 

Meghalaya has developed many programs that facilitate a culturally rich heritage for its people. In doing so, it took a major step in making Aminda Rangsa the cleanest village in India. Similarly,the villagers lead a sustainable life and give back majorly to the environment. For this, they received the Nirmala Gram Puraskar. Such accomplishments motivate the villagers.

Furthermore, a major change is brought through by many other villages to attract tourists. Inspired by how Aminda has found its unique identity through its artists and is working on creating its own heritage museum.  

Check out more about eco-tourism here: https://indiachalk.com/blog/explore-top-10-lavish-ecotourism-destinations-in-india/