That delicate handspun Muslin, globally revered, locally spun by weavers down generations have always touched a connoisseur’s dream to own one. The famous textile had flourished in all its glory in undivided Bengal. But why did ancient India celebrate Muslin yarn as a symbol of
Do you still have that Madur at home, the one we sat on during our childhood days with a bowl of puffed rice on a winter morning and some nolengur, chatting up with friends and family? Most urban Bengali homes today have bean bags or
Kolkata has always shown enormous love for art and has been a creative platform for budding artists. On the 12th of January 2020, 250 artists from various art disciplines converged on Hindustan Park Road in South Kolkata to be a part of yet another edition
Nestled amid nature in Bankura lies a quaint hamlet. From the highway, a long, dusty, rusty-red laterite soil path leads to Bikna, a village renowned for its ancient Dokra Art form. Connoisseurs of art and craft from all over the world throng to this village
Bengal’s Alpana is unique, not just for its colourful motifs, sacred art or painting done with hands, but also for the ingredients. The paste of rice and flour goes into designing those motifs on auspicious occasions. The word Alpana is derived from the Sanskrit word
I was privileged to attend Kolkata Government Art College 155th annual exhibition named ‘Parampara’. The oldest art college in Asia was like walking into Alladin’s cave which housed Bengal heritage creations. Paintings, sculpture and textile were the common techniques used. Like myself there were other
Their men once upon a time were famous potters of Bengal. But lack of government funding and profits from selling their clay products, turned most of them into small traders of vegetables, rickshaw pullers or even furniture traders. But while the husbands are away trying
Alpona has always been an intrinsic part of Bengali art and ethos. However, due to lack of time, space and expertise, this art is dying. In a view to revive the art form among the rural children, Chalchitra Academy recently held workshops at Khowabgaon. Present
This is where the huge horizon acts like a canvas with statues and murals of international acclaim rising before your eyes. As one steps inside the Kala Bhavan campus of Santiniketan, one comes across stupendous murals, at times unique sculptures lying around. The place has
This Lakshmi Puja, most Bengali homes will find artistic motifs of Alpona drawn across floors. Motifs of sun, lotus, fish, swastika, owl, snake, footprints of goddess Lakshmi, or even abstract designs will welcome the Goddess of Wealth to their homes. An ancient tradition, this laborious