The Bengal affair

The magic of hand-crafted and hand-woven marvels of rural Bengal cast its spell on the connoisseurs of the capital at Banga Utsav 2015, which was held from April 18 to 21 at Dilli Haat.  

Heralding the advent of the Bengali New Year or Nabo Barsho, the week-long exposition, organized by the Office of the Resident Commissioner, West Bengal, in collaboration with socio-cultural organization banglanatak dot com, was inaugurated in the gracious presence of Bhaskar Khulbe, Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Atanu Purkayastha, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, R D Meena, Principal Resident Commissioner, Government of West Bengal and Puneet K Goel, Commissioner, South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Bengali New Year is celebrated on 14 April in the Bangladesh and 15 April in the Indian state of West Bengal by the Bengali people and also by minor Bengali communities in other Indian states, including Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand and Orrisa. 

Some of the highlights of the exhibition were, the display and sale of ethnic Bengal handloom products, the beautiful Baluchari and hand-printed batik sarees and exquisite handicrafted items such as mats, wooden dolls and masks, embossed leather goods, clay models, dokra craft and terracotta costume jewellery. 

Promotion of community-led and managed Rural Craft Hubs are being developed in ten locations across Bengal targeting revitalization of traditional crafts, capacity building, infrastructure, technology and marketing support to craft persons and encouraging diversification efforts to ensure better financial returns for their creations. 

Presentation of mesmerizing folk music tradition of Bengal were showcased in the evenings of  April 18 and 19, bringing performers of Bhatiyali and Bhawaiya songs at the amphitheatre of Dilli Haat created an ambience of celebration, colour and rhythm.

The Office of the Resident Commissioner, West Bengal, organised handicrafts and handloom fairs at Delhi at regular intervals for the last few years with an objective to provide a national platform to rural artisans and weavers from the state. 

The endevour was a part of that continuing initiative which has received wide acclaim and encouragement from the citizens of Delhi so far.