When it comes to the richness of art and culture, West Bengal stands out to be one of the most unique and diverse states. The various foreign reigns have highly influenced the art and architecture of the state. However, Bengal prides itself on the imprint which it carries beyond the foreign influences, ancient and modern.
The foreign powers play a major role in the gradual changes that influenced the arts and crafts, providing an artistic diversity in the forms of dance, music, traditional handicrafts, painting, and carving. The stronghold of art and creativity makes the state the cultural capital of India.
Arts and Handicrafts of West Bengal
Dokra
Originated in the Bikna village of Bankura district of West Bengal, Dokra metal craft is considered as one of the oldest forms of metal casting, which dates back to five thousand years ago.
The Dokra Damar tribes, the traditional metal-smiths of Bengal have survived the test of times and even in recent years, their handcrafted products are found to be in great demand. Dokra metal items illustrate beauty in form of primitive simplicity with enthralling folk motifs.
The unique technique involves crafting the replica of the desired product with wax. The intricate detailing and designs are created in this process on a clay core. After drying it under the sun, the wax is replaced with molten metal by the traditional hollow casting method. Dokra horses, owls, elephants, lamp caskets, etc., are highly in demand.
Solapith
Solapith items and traditional crafts are highly popular and peculiar to Bengal. Since its origin hundreds of years ago till today, solapith items are one of the most fundamental necessities in rituals and religious requirements. Adorning the deities of various Gods and Goddesses with wreaths (known as Daker-Saaj) is much widespread.
These items are nationally admired for their exquisite designs with white material. Some of the other solapith items which are popular in Bengalee households are Topor (ornamental bridal headgear), decorated hangings, ornament boxes, images of different gods and goddesses, and so on.
Madur
Highly skilled artisans from the Midnapur district of West Bengal specialize in the art of weaving a rhizome-based plant, also known as madur kathi in the local language, which form a large mat. Traditionally, every household, especially in the rural areas, keeps the mat in a rolled way and spreads it out on the floor for sitting or sleeping purposes.
The craft of weaving plant products illustrates a sustainable way of living. This eco-friendly product also showcases colourful patterns.
Chhau Masks
Purulia district of West Bengal is immensely popular for the traditional Bengal folk dance, Chhau. However, Chhau dance is also practiced and performed in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, and Seraikela and Kharsawan in Jharkhand. However, Purulia in West Bengal stands out among all these places for the use of elaborate masks.
Making these masks involve elaborate effort. The immensely talented craftsmen make the use of paper, cloth, and clay on the moulds of mud. They are then painted with bright colours, following which they are varnished and adorned with feathers.
Properly carved out eye holes allow the dancer to see. Colour schemes are fixed for they represent the character portrayed by the dancers.
Hill Craft
Another art typical to Bengal is the art of Darjeeling hills. The northern districts of Bengal are home to numerous indigenous hill tribes, which make their art unique in their ways. Painted scrolls, also known as ‘thangka’, are a prominent craft, highly in demand among tourists.
The paintings are wonderfully done by the local artists depicting the Himalayas and the tea gardens.
Eco-friendly hand-crafted items such as bamboo carvings, wooden crafts, woolen garments, shawls, exotic carpets designed in Tibetan fashion are typical to the hill crafts.
Terracotta
The Terracotta handicraft of Bengal dates back years, but it got global recognition in 1952 when the Central Cottage Industries Emporium chose the ‘Bankura Horse’ as its logo. Bishnupur in Bankura district shelters several terracotta temples, whose exquisite carvings illustrate tales from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Apart from that, terracotta horses and elephants, accessories such as costume jewellery, wall decorations, and utility items like holders, and bowls have gained much prominence throughout the country.
Jute Products
Cultivated and produced in Bengal, Jute, the golden fibre, works as a wonderful raw material in the manufacturing of several items. The women of Bengal have been weaving and braiding Jute for years.
Utility items such as table mats, large shopping bags; home décor products ranging from carpets, tapestries, table mats, wall decorations, to plant-pot holders, Jute forms an eco-friendly substitute and contributes to a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. Kaliaganj area of West Dinajpur district is well-known for carrying out the dyeing processes of this wonderful natural fibre.
Clay Art
Bengal’s indigenous history speaks at length about the clay idols that have gained prominence in the Ghurni area of Nadia district. The potter communities are highly skilled in crafting dolls out of soft clay and fired-clay.
Some popular dolls are Tusu dolls and Hingul dolls of Bishnupur, Kanthalia dolls of Murshidabad, Jo dolls of Medinipur, and Shiva Head of Nabadwip.
Cane and Bamboo Handicrafts
Fancy items as well as the everyday utility items have been crafted out from raw materials like cane and bamboo. For years, local artisans have been crafting several handicraft items such as baskets, hand-fans, decorative trays, wall-hangings, and so on. Carved out from bamboo roots, the 'polo' balls of Deulti, Howrah to the 'Morasof Talbeti’ of Illambazar have been ranked as Bengal’s authentic handicrafts.
Wood Carving
One-piece owls and carved-out deities form some outstanding and authentic products which adorn the households of numerous tourists around the world. Natungram district of Burdwan and Kalighat dolls of Kolkata pride themselves on such brilliant art forms. Deities, toys, and other beautiful pieces are often carved out from a single piece of wood.
Conch-Shell Carvings
One of the oldest art forms of West Bengal is the traditional carving of Conch-shells. Skillful artisans from Bankura, Bishnupur, Malda, Murshidabad, and Nadia showcase their extraordinary talents by imbibing minute details of the shells.
Conch bangles are highly associated with Bengal traditions and rituals. Nowadays, however, novelty items such as shell jewellery, ornaments, table lamps, and many other products have gained eminence.
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