West Bengal"s rich heritage of handicrafts encompasses Sholapitha Craft, Clay Pottery, Kantha Embroidery, Dhokra and Terracotta Arts, Rag Dolls, Wooden Masks, Cane and Bamboo Handicrafts and Textiles.
Sholapitha Craft of Bengal
Sholapith is derived from a reed found in the marshy wetlands of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam. The core of this reed is white in colour and gets exposed when the outer layer of the stalk is shaved. The core is light, porous, soft and pliable and can be shaped to suit the imagination of the artisans. The artisans mould this reed into multiple objects like models of churches, temples and mosques, carved images of Goddess Durga during Durga Puja in Bengal, marriage headgear etc. Sholapitha crafts of Bengal are very famous, providing elegance and style in interior decor, festivities and social ceremonies.
Kantha Embroidery of West Bengal
Kantha is a popular and prominent form of embroidery in West Bengal. Done with folk motifs, it displays a vivid rural appeal characteristic to the state. Kantha Embroidery is done on shawls, sarees, coats, girdles, dupattas, shirts, beddings and other furnishing fabrics. It is also applied in covers for mirrors, boxes, pillows etc.
Wooden Masks of West Bengal
Usage of wooden masks in Bengal has come down from primitive times, generally depicting mythological characters, gods and goddesses. They are used for rituals, folk festivals and as home decorative items. The material used is Papier Mache painted in vibrant colours.
Terracotta Art of West Bengal
Terracotta of Bengal is world famous, an ancient art that received a new dimension with religion. Its range of domestic and decorative items have been produced by the potters known as “Khumbhakars†by the process of moulding dry and burnt clay.
Dhokra Art of West Bengal
Dhokra Art of Bengal follows the technique of crafting items using metal scrap, mainly brass, with the application of traditional folk motifs and techniques.
Rag Dolls of West Bengal
Making dolls from rags is a craft that traces its roots in Japanese influence, but lately gained immense popularity in Bengal. They are made with small cloths of cotton and wool, used by children and for decorative purposes.
Cane and Bamboo Craft of West Bengal
Cane and bamboo craft originated in ancient Bengal, mainly employed into making furniture, baskets, bamboo fans and matting that is the choice of people today for decorating their houses. These items find a bigger market in cities than villages in modern times.
Textile Handicrafts of West Bengal
The exquisite designs and texture of Baluchari Sarees, Silk and Tasar Textile from Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura, Hooghly and Nadia districts have become the choice of the century. The handloom textiles there too have caught global attention today.
