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Bengal is famous for its Solapith items which is
a traditional crafts peculiar to West Bengal having its origin in
the rituals and religious requirement of old days. The Malakars, the
traditional solapith –artisans enjoyed a respectable position in
the village society who used to supply wreaths (Daker-Saaj) and
flowers for the village deities and for religions and social
functions. With the change of social system, the demand pattern of
SolaCrafts items has also changed. The craftsmen have equipped
themselves to produce varieties of diversified products to attract
the common handicrafts lovers as well as the handicrafts collectors.
Modern touch with the distinctive design and craftsmanship have made
interior decoration with shola crafts attractive. Other products
like Topor (ornamental bridal headgear), ornament boxes, decorated
hangings, wall panels, ‘Mayur-Pankhi’, decorated mounted
elephants, images of different gods and goddesses, flowers etc., are
worth mentioning.
[About 5,000 Artisans are engaged in the Craft. Concentrated
districts are Burdwan, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia, Hooghly etc.]
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