Shola Pith The Unique Craft Of Bengal

Indian Handicrafts

Sholapith Indian Handicraft Is One Of The One The Most Significant Handicrafts Of The State Of West Bengal. Sholapith Craft Of West Bengal Recognized As One Of The Best Example Of Elegance, Exquisite Beauty And Superb Craftsmanship. Sholapith Indian Handicrafts Form An Significant Part Of The Major Religious Rituals In West Bengal Region. The People Engaged As Sholapith Craftsmen Are Known As Malakar. This Paper Aims At Identify The Production Cluster Of Sholapith Indian Handicrafts Of West Bengal. The Actual Cultural Significance Of Sholapith Craft Is To Classify The Products According To Their Uses. According To The Recent Studies It Reveals The Production Process Of Sholapith Indian Handicrafts. The Implements And Raw Materials Used In It And Technological Aspects Associated With These Products.The Data Are Collected Through Observation, Semi Structured, Indepth Interviews And Group Discussion. The Data Were Textual And Contextual Type I.E. The Former Is From The Documents And The Latter Is From The Studied Areas.

Sholapith Indian Handicrafts Or Shola Pith (also Referred To As Shola And Indian Cork) Is A Dried Milky-White Spongy Plant Matter Which Can Be Pressed And Shaped Into Delicate And Beautiful Objects Of Art. Thermocol Is Artificially Made, Sholapith Is Much Superior To Thermocol In Terms Of Malleability, Texture, Luster And Sponginess. Shola Grows Wild In Marshy Waterlogged Areas. The Biological Name Of Shola Is Aeschynomene Aspera Of The Bean Family. Herbaceous Plant, Which Grows Specifically In The Marshy Areas Of Bengal, Assam, Orissa And The Deccan. The Sholapith Is Manufactured From The Cortex Or Core Of The Plant And It Is About 1.5 Inches Across.

Sholapith Indian Handicrafts Traditionally Were Used In Embellishing Hindu Deities And Headgear’s For Brides And Grooms For A Conventional Bengali Wedding Ceremony. The People Associated With Sholapith Indian Handicraft Are Known As Malakar, It Means “Garland Maker”.The Reason Is To Make Garlands Made From Shola For Idols And For The Noble Class. Nearly 5,000 Artisans Are Involved In This Sholapith Craft. Craftsmen Spend Several Months On A Piece To Meticulously Curve Out The Details.

In West Bengal This Indian Handicraft Is Mainly Found In The Region Of Bardhaman, Hoogly, Nadia & Murshidabad Region Depicts About The Shola Crafts Are Flowery Designs, Decorative Head Wear Of Deities, Garlands, Exquisite Figures Like Faces Of Gods And Goddesses, Elephant Howdahs, Peacock Boats, Palanquins And So On. All Are Craft Of Sholapith.

The Idol Makers Of Heritage Place Of Kumortuli Who Traditionally Produced Clay Idols Have Taken To Making Idols Of Sholapith And Fiberglass. The Height Of The Idols Can Varying From 4 To 9 Feet. These Are Mostly Meant For Indian Community Puja Organizers Abroad. During Modern Times Sholapith Handicrafts Have Found A Huge Range Of Application In Home Décor, As An Artistic Objects. Today, Products Of Shola Are Exported To Different Countries In The World Too As Home Decor India.