The traditional craft of the Lepchas along with Bonbibi masks and clay dolls of Joynagar in South 24 Parganas will be displayed for the first time at the ‘Lokshilpa O Karukirti Mela’ organised by Rabindra Bharati University on May 7.
Professor Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, Vice-Chancellor of the university will preside over the inaugural function at the Dwarkanath Mancha, Jorasanko Thakurbari. The three-day fair has been organised by the West Bengal State Akademi of Dance, Drama Music and Visual Arts.
Haimanti Chattopadhyay, secretary of the Akademi said the main purpose behind holding the fair was to create awareness among people about the rich tradition in the field of art and crafts in the state. “We often decorate our rooms with masks that are famous in South Africa and Thailand but in Bengal, there are districts where the artisans make masks and which can compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world.” The clay dolls of Joynagar which have a long history will be displayed for the first time.
Similarly, the traditional crafts of the Lepcha community will be on display.
It may be mentioned that the Backward Classes Welfare department has chalked out schemes to help Lepcha artists and musicians to pursue their carrier.
Nearly 60 artists, craftspersons and weavers from 17 districts of Bengal will take part in the fair with a wide range of attractive traditional art and craft items made by them.
These will include — patachitras, mats, and decorative items made with wild grass and buffalo horns from Paschim Medinipur district; lac items from Purba Medinipur district; clay dolls from Dakshin 24 Parganas district; dokra jewellery, shola crafts, kantha-stitch items and batik products from Birbhum and Howrah districts; kanthas and wood carvings from Bardhaman district; traditional clay models from Nadia district; Baluchari sarees, dokra crafts and dashabatar cards from Bankura district; Chhau dance masks from Purulia district; bamboo crafts from Malda district; jute crafts from Murshidabad district; wooden masks and dokra items from Dakshin Dinajpur district; polia clay models from Uttar Dinajpur district; wooden handicrafts from Alipurduar district; shitalpatis from Cooch Behar district; and wood carvings from Darjeeling district.
source: http://www.millenniumpost.com / Millennium Post / Home> Kolkata / by Team MP / Kolkata – May 05th, 2017