Exhibition showcasing Bengal products starts today in Italy

Kaushik Moitra, managing director of Sulekha, the 82-year-old ink manufacturing company said this was for the first time when an exhibition of such a big scale will be held. It is being organised by Threads of Heart in collaboration with an Italian firm Indoorman.

Baluchari sarees, dokra products, silatpati and handloom products will be the prime items that will be showcased. The organisers expect impressive turnouts at the exhibition as interest for products from Bengal is fast growing among the Europeans.

Tantuja products will also be displayed at the exhibition. There will be hand bags and wallets on display. Apart from this, there will be a large collection of hand-made products including those used for home decoration.

It may be mentioned that a few months back, Baluchari online store was opened in the city where buyers will have to select the sarees and make the payment online. In addition to sarees, shirts, wallets, ties, punjabis made of Baluchari are also available. An exhibition to showcase Baluchari products, particularly sarees was held in England a few months ago. 

The buyers are getting in touch with the weavers and are giving the designs of their choice. Baluchari dhotis are also becoming increasingly popular. Kushik Moulik said programmes would be held in social clubs where the members would wear Baluchari products to popularise the ancient art.

It may be recalled that after coming to power in 2011, Mamata Banerjee laid emphasis on the revival of Bengal’s old arts and traditions. The mask making of North and South Dinajpur that had become nearly extinct has been revived.

The muslin and Baluchari that had earned worldwide fame in the 18th and 19th century have been revived. Apart from muslin sarees, other products like punjabi, kurti, bed linen, salwar and kameez are available in the Biswa Banga stores. Tantuja and Manjusha, have made profits and the handloom products have become very popular.