Village Festivals of West Bengal

banglanatak dot com works towards reviving and revitalizing intangible cultural heritage as means of livelihood. The flagship initiative of the organisation, Art for Life has led to socio-economic empowerment of 4500 folk artists in eastern India. They have used an innovative strategy of establishing 6 rural folk art centres which have evolved as living museums where artists practice their traditions, interact with the visitors and organize annual festivals as celebration of their heritage. The hubs provide a new positive identity to the localities which were earlier identified as deprived rural villages. 10 rural creative hubs are gradually emerging as new cultural tourism destinations to bring additional income opportunities to the so-far economically marginalized areas. They also promote education tourism by facilitating interaction between the local community and the visitors. The local people share their heritage and the tourists take back a piece of human history. The festivals organised annually at these villages highlight how ICH is a way of life of the people and not one-off event for a single audience.

A motley array of festivals dots our annual almanac:

Festivals of Purulia are numerous which is coloured and characterized by the epiphanies of joyous ceremonies and enthusiasm, and technically personify the robust and composite cultural heritage of the nation, History has it that an assortment of folk performances is held as this festive period dawns upon. The traditional dance forms of Purulia are rich and vibrant and have a global appeal. Chau, the dance form replicating martial art, has been inscribed in the list of master piece art by UNESCO. Bamnia and Cheliyama are two of the villages having the largest concentration of Chau dancers. One has to pay a visit to the villages meet some of the finest indigenous artists and experience their hospitality amidst the serene beauty of nature.

Charida, a small picturesque village in the foothills of Ajodhya is home for some wonderful artists making Chau mask, the headgears for Chau, the dance form with vigorous movements. In Purulia, Chau dancers wear large stylized masks while performing. The masks have a frank, simple and bold look.  An annual Chau Mask Festival is held where Charida welcomes one and all with its wondrous beauty, rustic charm and the simplicity.

Gorbhanga village situated in Nadia district of West Bengal is the home of the Fakirs. ‘Fakir’ is a word coined from the Arabic terms ‘Fe-kaph-re’ whose literal translation would be the ‘Madness’ of discovering the power of the element, ‘Air’. The Fakirs celebrate the search of the Eternal Truth through their music. A  home for more than 100 fakirs, the spirit of Gorbhanga are  simplicity, warmth, serenity and receptivity to other culture. While entering the village one is likely to hear the strumming of instruments like Dotara (lute) or the tinkle of Mandira and the sweet melodies sung by the Sufis of Bengal. Every year the Fakirs of Gorbhanga celebrate their music and philosophy in a three day long festival called Fakiri Utsav. During the festival one can get immersed the soulful Fakiri music and enjoy jam sessions with the international artists creating an ambience of cultural plurality.

Between the two ancient capitals of Bengal, Pundrabardhan and Gaur, lies the soft, green village called Kushmandi, which produces the finest examples of Bengal wood carving skills, along with other forms of traditional art, like fine pottery, bamboo and cane art or artifacts made out of fabric. But its claim to fame is undoubtedly the wooden masks (mukha), which are meant for Gambheera dances or Palas (musical folk theaters). It is a dance cum mime performed by various ethnic groups of Dinajpur. Traditionally, the masks are made by the Rajbonshi community of this area (250 artists). Bold demonic look is the characteristic feature of the masks. The annual fare by these artists is also an occasion to visit the place and get immersed into an authentic cultural experience that’s exclusive in its own measure.

The art form came to be known as Madhubani painting as the largest concentration of artists is at present in Madhubani. Madhubani painting (originally known as Mithila or Maithili painting),is a traditional wall painting or bhitti-chitra by rural artists, mostly women, commemorating the social rituals,  Done mostly in colour, line, Godhna and Tantric styles, these paintings reflect religious leanings, love for nature, feminine beauty, and divinity, as well as the panoramic view of the day to day life. The main themes of Madhubani paintings are Krishnaleela, Ramayan, Marriage and other mythological stories. The fish is also a common character as it is thought to be a symbol of love, fertility and procreation. Songs related to different rites are traditionally associated with these ritualistic paintings. The young women artists of this area are celebrating the story of their resurgence for last three years by organizing a three-day rural festival named, Madhubani Festival, at Rajnagar in Madubani. Presently there is a concentration of more than 700 Madhubani painters in Simri region of Madhubani district. Now the artists, mostly women, also paint on other mediums like garments, wood and came up with delightful products like scarves, t-shirts, coasters, lampshades etc. Vistors there can learn about the painting and its underlying tales, buy from a wide range of products, marvel at the ruins of local royal heritage and enjoy performance by folk musicians.

With a rich history and tradition, ideal geographical location for both agriculture and industries and a wide tourism potential, Bardhaman wears a motley crown. Around sixty families living in the Natungram village, of the Bardhaman district, are involved in wooden doll- making. These dolls are characterised by vibrant colour, intricate design and ethnic style. The owl, with its unique design and colours, is the brand product of the village and shares an iconic status in representing Bengal’s handicrafts. Besides replications of owls, Krishna and Radha and King and Queen are traditionally made. The small village waits the visitors with its pastoral beauty, rural charm and great artistry. A 3-day village fair along with a folk festival is held in Natungram, which beckons one and all to witness the artistic brilliance of the craftsmen.

In Bankura district there are is an old and established village of Terracotta craftsmen, Panchmura, which is the home of around 300 artists making terracotta items. Terracotta is a fascinating baked clay-based art. When one hears the word “terracotta” it brings images of the famed Terracotta Army in China or the Tanagra figurines from Greece, but the archetypal “Bankura Horse,” the tour de force of Indian terracotta, has over time gained recognition as a work of art among art lovers in the world. The a terracotta of Bankura is famous for its simple yet dynamic srtistry having a range of products starting from animal and human statuettes to household utility and décor products. One can plan a vacation at Panchmura, and experience its pastoral beauty, simple life, enriched cultural heritage. A three-day village fair, along with a folk festival is held at Panchmura, promoting community led heritage tourism.

Though many folk art forms which are our intangible heritage are dying with the emergence of electronic media, there is one art form which was dying even few years back, has made a remarkable comeback. One such art form is Patachitra. Naya is in Pingla block in West Midnapore district which has been able to celebrate the success of local artists in reviving the village heritage, for a mix of art and music in a rural setting. . There are around 250 Patuas living in Naya village in Pingla who paint stories in a series of frames on long scrolls of cloth with natural colours. Artists are also making various diversified products like T-Shirts, sarees painted with Patachitra and utility items like lanterns etc. They added bits of modernity to this art form. Some of them paint not just the divine mischief of Krishna, but also nightmares like 9/11, 26/11 , Jnaneswari train carnage, national issues like the Babri Masjid destruction or the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. A 3 - day village festival, POTMaya, offer visitors the unique opportunity to see art gallery at every house, interact with the artists, learn about mythology or extracting natural colour and collect some great work.

Situated on 4 acres of land, Tepantar is a theatre village in Satkahania of Bardhaman. The thick Garh forest presents a perfect backdrop for the winding Ajay River, offering a visual splendor to the tourists. The cultural centre is run by Ebong Amra, a group of local tribal people who promote regional forms and rituals through innovative stage and open air performances of plays staged widely in India and Bangladesh. Festivals and fairs are held regularly at Tepantar.

Situated on 60 bigha of land, Loksevayatan is an institute established in 1948 enshrined with the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. The founder of the institute Subodh Kumar Roy and his wife Basanti Roy worked with Gandhi for twelve years and then founded Loksevayatan at Nimdih, in Purulia-Jharkhand border. At the foothill of Dolma the land is rocky and has a sylvan beauty with a rivulet running along the boundary of the Ashram. The simplicity of life and quietude of nature can be felt right after entering the Ashram. The Ashramites are engaged in organic farming and rural industries. A three -day festival named Basanta Utsav is celebrated here to mark the festival of colours. The people smear Aabir (colours) on each other and sway to the local ‘Jhumur' tunes’, Chau, Natua and Pata dance.