Kolkata: The Rural Craft Hub in Pingla set up jointly by the department of Micro, Small and medium Enterprises and Textiles department and UNESCO, has attracted craft lovers throughout the country and abroad and has helped the patchitra painters, popularly known as the 'patuas' to become economically self-reliant.
Naya village in Pingla block of West Midnapore is the home of 250 patuas. After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has laid special stress on the revival of traditional craft, folk culture and music. Nearly 2 lakh folk artistes are given monthly stipends.
The craft artisans are regularly taking part in fairs organised in different states. The patchitra paintings have become so popular that the artists are frequently going to Delhi and Hyderabad to take part in workshops on patchitras and people outside the community are also showing interest in learning the ancient art.
For generations, the patchitra painters, who are Muslims, have been drawing pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses. The patuas paint stories in a series of frames on long scrolls of cloth using natural colours. But now, along with the traditional patchitras, the artists are painting for various projects taken up by the state government like Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi. West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has set up a folk art centre where patchitras are sold along with t-shirts, hand fans, bags and umbrellas with patchitra designs painted on them.
Every year, the annual festival Pot Maya is held at Naya village in November. This year, the fair will be held from November 16 to 18.