A bouquet of Bengal handicrafts and handlooms

Keeping the festivities of Durga Puja, now just weeks away, in mind a bouquet of exquisite and exclusive handicrafts and handloom creations from Bengal have been put together as part of an exhibition at ‘Sharad Utsav’.

The festival has been jointly organised by Government of West Bengal and Central Cottage Industries Corporation (CCIC).

Open for public till September 8, and spread over 1000 sq feet on the ground floor of Cottage Emporium, the festival has brought together an array of vibrant craft items including hand-painted terracotta jewellery and traditional Dokra or lost-wax mould products, combining creativity with enchanting folk motifs.

Kantha stoles, sarees, bags, lamp-shades and daily-use items depicting elaborate needlework, embossed leather bags and purses from Shantiniketan and wooden bankura horses are adorning the shelves.  

Like the myriad hues of its seasons, Bengal handicrafts and handlooms also represents the rare blend of imagination, colour, style, variety, ethnic touch, traditional outlook and sophistication.

To pep up the festive mood, tasty Bengali snacks and mouth-watering sweets are also being sold at the venue. Sweet lovers can have kalo jamun (gulab jamun) along with Bengal’s typical snack – jhaal muri.

So, for all the Bengalis out there, it is a perfect way to welcome the biggest festival – Durga Puja, with some finely crafted fabrics and terracota jewellery.