Stories
Chhattisgarh Farmers Use Bamboo Dander for Free Fishing
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News18•06-10-2026, 10:20
Chhattisgarh Farmers Use Bamboo Dander for Free Fishing
- •Villagers in Bastar create a traditional fishing tool called Dander from dry bamboo during the monsoon season.
- •The eco-friendly Dander costs almost nothing to make and lasts for about five years without needing replacement.
- •Local farmer Sonsay explains that making a single Dander takes four to five days of occasional work.
- •The device is placed in fields so that flowing rainwater passes through it, trapping fish effectively.
Key Questions Answered
Dander is a traditional, round and slightly elongated tool made from dry bamboo by villagers in Bastar to catch fish during the rainy season without depending on market-bought materials. It is placed in the upper part of a field so that flowing water passes through it, trapping the fish inside as the water moves to another field.
A Dander takes about four to five days to make when crafted by cutting dry bamboo into small pieces and giving a little time here and there. Once completed, a properly made bamboo Dander lasts for about five years of free fishing use.
Villagers like Sonsay learn the traditional method of making and setting up a Dander from their family members and ancestral practices.
