Bengal crafts find showcase in Rome

SNS | Kolkata | 04 September, 2016: Handloom products of Bengal will be showcased at a month-long exhibition at Rome.

The exhibition, scheduled to start on Sunday, coincides with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s four-day visit to Italy for attending the canonisation of Mother Teresa.

The West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has engaged an NGO for organising the exhibition.

The exhibition will kick off with a three-day event in an open space following which the exhibition will be shifted to a gallery in Rome.Various types of handloom sarees namely Muslin, Baluchari, Tussar, Matka, Jute Silk, Jamdani, Korial, Gorod, Kantha and Tant will find space at the exhibition. This apart, artifacts of Dokra, Sitalpati, Madurkathi, Terracotta, Patachitra, wooden and Chau masks will also be put on display. “Italy is a fashion destination. We are hopeful that handloom products from Bengal, particularly Muslim, which are already in great demand in Western countries will now win the hearts of Italians,” said a senior official of WBKVIB.

“The effort to exhibit products from the state at a foreign country is aimed at providing a platform for promotion,” he added

Banerjee has given emphasis to the handloom and textile sector by coming up with a new textile policy and setting up Commissionerate of Textiles for development, infrastructure support and drawing investment.

“Handloom products of Bengal have a rich tradition. The heritage of our master weavers and artisans are now blended with new technological designs and threads to produce wide variety of products. As an economic trade and industrial activity, the handlooms occupy a place second only to agriculture in providing livelihood to the people,” said the official. 

This apart, the state is also providing specialised training and infrasturcture support to weavers. Presently, weaving machines or 'Charka' are being given to the weavers free of cost after bringing them from Ahmedabad.