Maize Stalk Toy and Craft Making — Champaran Bihar

Rural artisans in East Champaran use dried maize stalks and husks to make decorative toys, masks, and figures. After harvest, hollow stalks are sliced, shaped, and assembled without glue using thorn pins. Figures of animals, village deities, and wedding characters are painted with natural dyes. The craft is primarily practised by women during post-harvest months as supplementary income. NABARD's livelihood programmes have helped organise artisans into SHGs. Products are sold at district fairs, TRIFED outlets, and online through Craftsvilla. Champaran's connection to Gandhi's indigo satyagraha gives the region craft-tourism potential.