Essays And Paragraphs

Nakshi kantha

Bangladesh has a rich cultural history that must be passed down to future generations. Over the years, Bangladesh's culture has absorbed influences from within the country, from other regions or states, and even from other religions. Music, dance, drama, art and craft, clothing, folktales, languages and literature, and festival celebrations are all examples of it. Nakshi kantha has a thousand-year-old traditional worth. This is seen as another important aspect of Bangladeshi culture. It is a type of traditional craft that is native to Bangladesh as well as the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and parts of Assam. For generations, the art has been practiced in rural Bengal. Nakshi kanthas are made throughout bangladesh, but the greater Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Bogura, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Jashore and Chittagong areas are most famous for this craft.

The name "Nakshi Kantha" comes from the vibrant patterns and designs that are embroidered. The name was inspired by the Bangla word "Naksha," which means "artistic design." After the poet Jasimuddin's poem 'Nakshi Kanthar Math' was released in 1929, the name 'Nakshi Kantha' became more famous day by day. Although the early Kanthas had a white backdrop with red, blue, and black needlework, the later Kanthas featured a red, blue, and black background. Later on, other colors such as yellow, green, and pink were added. Kantha was traditionally made for the family's consumption. Today, after the revival of the nakshi kantha, they are produced commercially. The quilts are now in great demand because of the colourful patterns and designs embroidered on them. Like any other folk art, kantha making is influenced by factors such as available materials, daily needs, climate, geography and economic factors. Probably the earliest form of kantha was the patchwork kantha. Traditionally old sarees, lungis and dhotis were used to make kanthas. Kantha making was not a full-time job. Women in almost every household were expert in the art. Rural women worked at leisure time or during the lazy days of monsoon, so taking month or even years to finish a kantha was normal. At least five to seven sarees were needed to make a standard-size kantha. When a kantha is being made, first the sarees are joined to attain the required size, and then layers are spread out on the ground. The cloths are then smoothed, and no folds or creases are left in between. During the process, the cloth is kept flat on the ground with weights on the edges. Then the four edges are stitched and two or three rows of large running stitches are done to keep the kantha together. At this stage, the kantha can be folded and stitched at leisure time. Originally the designs and mortifs were not drawn on the cloth. The Design was first outlined with needle and thread, followed by focal points, and then the filling mortifs were done. In a kantha with predominant central motif the centre was done first, followed by corner designs and the other details. In some types of kanthas wooden blocks were used to print the outline. The blocks are replaced today by patterns drawn in tracing paper.Today even the old materials are replaced by new cotton cloths.

The nakshi kantha is not just a piece of fabric that depicts our culture, but it also serves an important role in keeping people creative. It is a skill that should be passed on from generation to generation. We should spend our free time studying new skills like the making of a nakshi kantha. Anyone can showcase their artistic talent through a nakshi kantha, and it is our responsibility to recognize and appreciate their effort and culture.