The Wrought iron craft is a traditional craft, in which the iron is heated and beaten to desired thickness and shape to form different objects. The tradition of iron craft is passed down from generation to generation and the craftsmen are highly skilled and very creative as it clearly reflects in their craft. The craft that started from catering to farming, hunting and ritualistic needs is now a beautiful work of art in demand. The Agaria community is specialized themselves in extracting iron from the iron ores, is experimenting with the religious art forms also. They created wrought iron lamps (diya in Hindi) and also decorated it with animal motifs. This resulted in more experimentation with the forms and sizes. Wrought iron products include “depak”, which is made of many shallow bowls like lamps (diya), bird and animal figures, wall hangings, small diamond shaped leaf like structures and vertical and horizontal rods. These depaks are the specialty of the ironsmiths of this area. These are available in the forms of laman diya (hanging diya) and khut diya (stand diya). Many new forms like hangers, masks, innovative lamps, wall hangings and showpieces are also manufactured. The traditional lamps are decorated with bird and animal figures, and small diamond shaped leaf like structures. The shape of horse is also popular. The new forms in the craft reflect the realities of the changing times and a craftsman’s response

to it.