WB govt leaving no stone unturned to revive Portugese Shawl sale

Kolkata, Feb 22 (KNN) In order to revive the sale of Portugese shawls in the state, the government is taking several steps towards it.

Biswa Bangla Brand was created by West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee to hold up to the world the best of Bengal – be it in handicrafts, art, food or anything else. Through the brand, over the last few years, many a lost art form has been revived, said All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

One such handicraft is a type of shawl with motifs popularised by the Portuguese centuries ago in Bengal, where they had come as traders.

The Indo-Portuguese shawl were made from monochrome and embroidered tussar silk on cotton muslin.

Now these shawls are being revived, and the efforts are paying off, AITC said.

A substantial clientele has been developed for this lost art form both in India and abroad, a clientele which has highly appreciated this work. The work is being produced at a workshop in Garia in South 24-Parganas district.

The designs are mostly sewn in kantha stitch, which is another hallowed tradition of Bengal. The motifs are varied – from people to animals to plants to even chess pieces.

According to the makers, they are very happy to be earning well and thus becoming self-sufficient through selling their wares in Biswa Bangla stores, and also for the fact that they have managed to revive a tradition long thought to be lost. (KNN Bureau)