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Bamboo Craft

Artistic creations in eco-friendly bamboo

Description

Basket weaving has been practiced as an ancient art form in India, with rural communities crafting unique shapes and patterns for baskets that reflect their local traditions, necessities, and techniques. In the past, skilled artisans created baskets and winnows, which are tray-like bamboo baskets commonly used in Bengal for both daily activities and rituals. These craftsmen also fashioned various items such as hand-held fans, sieves, and more, adorning them with auspicious symbols for use in ceremonies like weddings.

Process

  • Bamboo Preparation: Cut bamboos into desired sizes and Peel off the outer skin.
  • Anti-Termite Treatment:
    • Soak bamboo pieces in a mixture of Boric and Borax powder and Add Potassium Permanganate
    • Soak for a minimum of 3-4 days and sun-dry the treated pieces.
  • Readiness for Weaving and Carving: Once bamboo pieces are thoroughly dried, they are ready for weaving and carving.
  • Optional Color and Weaving: For added aesthetics, color the strips and weave them into the product.

Product

Traditional Description:

Bamboo baskets are traditionally used for winnowing for everyday use and rituals. They are made, then painted with auspicious symbols and are used in marriage and other ceremonies. Ordinary baskets, hand held fans and sieves are also woven as a part of traditional items. The majority of artists in the different districts mostly make traditional items. The artists of Purulia only make traditional items. The artists mostly procure bamboo from Malda and other parts of North Bengal.

Contemporary Description:

Among the contemporary items wall hangings, desk calendars, lanterns, and lamp shades, bouquets, flower vase, ash-trays, mats, fruit baskets, coasters, chandeliers etc. are being made for home décors. The artists of Uttar Dinajpur, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman and Malda are equipped to make the same. Subhasganj of Uttar Dinajpur and Gazole of Malda make best of the diversified products like lampshades, colourful baskets, jewellery box, jewellery, bangle box etc. Ushaharan of Dakshin Dinajpur makes furniture items. Bhaluka and Jeotha Bansh has good strength and used for sofa, chairs made by artists of Ushaharan.

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Village Festival

Malda folk festival was held at Malda town from Oct 14-16. The festival was held in association with the district administration of Malda. The festival was inaugurated by the District Magistrate of Malda, Shri Nitin Singhania along with leading Gambhira, Domni, Basketry artists of Malda. The festival saw participation of leading folk theatre groups of Malda. Eight Gambhira groups, 3 Domni groups participated along with participation of Raibenshe, Bhawaiya and Baul artists. Along with participation of Basketry artists from Gazole who are part of RCCH Project, District Industries Centre and West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board also facilitated artists participation at the fair with locally produced handicraft and FMCG products. Heritage education on Basketry was taken up with the school students. Uttar Dinajpur Festival Uttar Dinajpur Festival was organised at Raiganj showcasing the rich art and craft of North Bengal. The fesitvla was inaugurated by the Sabhadhipati of Uttar Dinajpur, Kabita Barman, Additional Distrrict Magistrate (Development), Shri Manas Mandal, GM DIC, Chairman Raiganj Municipality, Headmaster-Sudarshanpur Dwarika Prasad Vidyachakra and master artists inaugurated the festival. There were 20 stalls in the festivals where 43 craft artists participated. Folk performances were organised where 114 artists participated. Local cultural groups also performed in the event. There were handicraft stalls of Wooden Mask, Basketry, Terracotta, Shola craft, Sitalpati, Bamboo Mask, Dhokra, Rabha, Kantha and Patachitra. Each stall had an artist demonstrating the process of making the handicraft which attracted a lot of visitors who were curious and wanted to learn about the making of the handicrafts. Mukha dance, Raibenshe, Baul, Gambhira, Rabha song and dance, Bhawaiya music was showcased in the festival. Talk on Heritage of Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur was conducted by Sukumar Barai, Associate Professor, Dept. of History, Meghnath Saha College, Itahar and Mr. Tuhin Shubro Mondal, environmentalist teacher and President of Dakshin Dinajpur Heritage Society. The panellists talked on heritage of the region like town bank, sinha bahini mandir associated with Tebhaga Andolon which needs to be safeguarded. There are interesting waterways in the region which caters to history of the medieval period.

Activity

Basket weaving is an ancient art in India. Indigenous communities make different shapes and patterns of baskets based on their local traditions, needs and techniques. While in earlier times, basket weavers used to make a limited range of products like tray-like baskets used in rituals, at present they make a range of diversified products infused with indigenous craftsmanship and utility value. The artists of Malda, Dinajpur hubs included in RCCH project (2016-2019) have infused new designs in their artistry and are now travelling across India. Under Sfurti scheme of Ministry of MSME, a cluster inervention programme with infrastructure and machine facility has also been taken up at Majlishbag in Gazole of Malda. Under RCCH Phase II, new hubs have been identified and trained. One of the prominent clusters out of the same is Dighidanaga in Birbhum. Under the aegis of RCCH II, a total of 169 artists, 144 from Purulia (Raidih village in Barabazar, Bela village in Balarampur and Charida Kalindi Para in Bagmundi) and 25 from Birbhum (Dighidanga) have been trained on skill upgradation, dyeing process, costing methods, product finishing and others. The basketry artists have also been trained to create a range of diversified products of high market value. A total of 36 artists from Dighidanga have received training on business strategy, communication, digital and financial skills so that they not only derive the capability to initiate and sustain independent entrepreneurial ventures but also derive the ability to communicate about the history and practice of their aesthetic tradition to outsiders. The intervention focussed on not only empowering the craft practitioners but also contributed in accrediting them a cultural identity premised on their aesthetic pursuits.