“Sarna Paintings” (Jharkhand) — what this refers to
- “Sarna” is an Adivasi nature-worship tradition centered on sacred groves across Jharkhand and adjoining states. The visual language you see marketed as “Sarna paintings” typically draws from Sohrai–Khovar tribal mural art of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand (motifs of cattle, sacred trees, animals, fertility), now painted on paper/canvas for sale.
- The formally recognized craft is Sohrai–Khovar Painting, which received a Geographical Indication (GI) in 2020 (Application 658); the GI dossier documents materials and process.
Exports snapshot & HS code
- Exporters classify original works as HS 9701 (paintings, drawings, executed by hand). India’s HS 9701 exports form the bulk of Chapter 97; public dashboards place this category in the hundreds of millions of USD annually (e.g., 2023). Use HS 9701 for pricing/TTC with importers.
Quality & compliance (what buyers ask for)
- Materials (GI file): locally available clays and earth pigments—e.g., manganese black, kaolin white/cream, yellow ochre; application with chewed sal twig “datwan” or comb-cut on a clay-coated surface. For paper/canvas SKUs, note “natural pigments per Sohrai tradition” on COA.
- Authenticity: reference to GI—Sohrai–Khovar (Jharkhand) in catalogue copy and invoices; add artisan/cluster attribution where possible.
- Packaging: flat rigid sandwich or tube with moisture barrier; HS 9701 on docs.
Why India/Jharkhand (region strengths)
- Origin linkage: state tourism and scholarship identify Sohrai–Khovar as a women-led mural art of Hazaribagh villages, rooted in harvest and marriage cycles—closely aligned to Sarna nature worship. This “sacred-grove/cattle/forest” iconography is unique to the region.
Sabai Grass Products (Odisha & West Bengal)
What it is & where from
- Sabai grass = Eulaliopsis binata (also called babui/bobai). Major craft clusters: Mayurbhanj (Odisha) and Bankura–Purulia–Paschim Medinipur (West Bengal)—making coiled baskets, trays, mats, bags, décor, etc.
- GI status: “Mayurbhanj Sabai Products” is on the GI Registry (Application 764) and listed as Pre-Examination; Odisha govt/OUAT filed the application in 2021
Exports snapshot & HS code
- Ship under HS 4602 (basketwork/wickerwork & other plaited articles). India exported about US$ 166 million of HS 4602 in 2023, making it a top-3 global supplier in the category.
Quality & compliance (what buyers ask for)
- Fibre & make: use well-seasoned Eulaliopsis binata strands; tight, even coil; clean joins; dimensional stability; low moisture to prevent mould. Technical literature and gov’t/cluster pages identify Sabai’s use as rope/craft fibre and its regional abundance.
- Dyes/chemicals: for dyed products destined to EU/UK/US, ensure azo-amine restrictions compliance (REACH Annex XVII; typical limit ≤ 30 mg/kg for each listed amine in textiles/leather). Many buyers request a lab azo-free test report.
- Packaging & plant health: finished, dried, woven articles rarely need phytosanitary permits, but ISPM-15 applies to any wood packaging you use; check the destination NPPO if buyers ask.
Why India/region (strengths)
- Place-based supply: government sources note Sabai’s wide cultivation/collection in Mayurbhanj and traditional rope-making trade—giving assured raw-material continuity. In West Bengal, state bodies document Sabai clusters across Bankura/Purulia/Medinipur
- Recognition & marketability: the GI application for Mayurbhanj Sabai strengthens origin storytelling; UNESCO-linked RCCH Bengal promotes Sabai craft in West Bengal—useful for buyer confidence and market access.
HS mapping
- Sarna/Sohrai–Khovar paintings: HS 9701 (hand-executed paintings).
- Sabai baskets/containers/placemats etc.: HS 4602 (plaited articles of vegetable materials).
Spec checklists you can drop into POs
A) Sarna-themed (Sohrai–Khovar) Paintings – HS 9701
- Base (paper/canvas), size; pigments (natural/clay per GI dossier); artist/cluster; GI reference; packing (flat/tube + moisture barrier).
B) Sabai Grass Products – HS 4602
- Fibre grade & moisture cap; construction (coil width, stitch density), dimensional tolerances; colourway & azo-free test (if dyed); carton spec + ISPM-15 for any wood packaging.
