Bengal Women & Artistry

Women have played a significant role in the creation, preservation, and promotion of various forms of folk art. Folk art in Bangladesh reflects the rich cultural diversity of the country, and women's contributions to these traditional art forms are integral to preserving the cultural heritage. In this op-ed I will talk about some Bangladeshi folk artistry produced by women.

Nakshi Katha: The traditional embroidered and stitched quilt making practice is know as Nakshi Katha. Women in rural Bangladesh make Nakshi katha sitting at the house yard, often singing folk song known as Geet. The singing and quilting go hand in hand and makes a space of social solidarity, trust and friendship who quilt together. In their quilt women often use a storyline representing them through patterned and stitched artwork.

Image Courtesy: Nazmun Naher Shishir, The Third Pole

Alpona art: Alpona is the traditional painting created by women using rice paste and leaves to make color. In Chapainabaganj, Bangladesh, there is a village known for the artwork of women popularly known as Alponagram. In that village women paint geometric and floral pattern on their house wall. Their art is a vernacular expression of their religion, belief and aesthetics.  

Image courtesy of Nur Bhuiyan

Pottery: Pottery making is an age-old folk art in Bangladesh.

Photo courtesy: The Financial Express

It is amazing how mud the most available resource is turned into an aesthetic art form by the pottery artists. Women in our country actively take part in pottery making. Traditional clay pots, dolls, mugs, masks, wall decor, flower verse, sculpture and figures are popular pottery in our country. Prominent American Folklorist Henry Glassie’s work on Bangladeshi pottery is an influential work that shows how the work pottery creates relations—relations between nature and culture, between the individual and society, between utility and beauty. 

Basket Weaving:

Women in rural areas often practice mat and basket weaving using natural fibers. These traditional crafts are not only functional but also carry cultural significance. The products are used in daily life for various purposes, from carrying goods to sitting mats.

Jari Embroidery: Jari embroidery involves the use of metallic thread to create intricate designs on fabric. Women in Bangladesh often engage in Jari embroidery to embellish traditional clothing, adding a touch of elegance to saris, shawls, and other garments.

Shital Pati: Shital Pati is a traditional art form in Bangladesh involving the handcrafting of mats by weaving strips of green cane known as ‘Murta’. Primarily found in the low-lying villages of the greater Sylhet region, Shital Pati is also practiced in other parts of the country. Both men and women are involved in collecting and processing Murta, with women playing a more significant role in the weaving process. This craft is not only a major source of livelihood but also a strong marker of identity, reinforcing family bonds and promoting social harmony. Over generation the mastery of the techniques is continued as a form of social and cultural identity.

Through their involvement in these diverse forms of folk artistry, Bangladeshi women contribute to the cultural preservation. Carrying the artistic skills and tradition to the next generation women are certainly the active tradition bearer playing vital role in shaping and reshaping national-cultural identity of Bangladesh.