Nakshi Kantha : A Traditional Craft of Bangladesh

 

Nakshi Kantha

Nakshi Kantha is one of the most popular traditional crafts of our country. It is a kind of embroidered quilt which is artistically made by rural women and girls. The name 'Naksi Kantha' was taken from the Bengali word 'naksha' which means artistic pattern. According to the linguist Niaz Zaman, the word Kantha was originated from the ancient Sanskrit word which is 'Kantha, that means rags, because Kantha is always made of rags. The first ever known mention of Bengal Kantha was found in the book which is known as Chaitanya Charitamrita by Krishnadasa Kaviraja, which was written about five hundred years ago.

Motif

Nakshi Kantha is different from other ordinary quilts. Old or new cloths and coloured threads are used for making nakshi kantha. Firstly, old or new cloths and coloured threads are collected. Then clothes are washed and dried up in the sun. After that cloths are folded together according to exact measurement and women start to sew them. They create different designs using the threads of various colours. These patterns and figures include natural sceneries, picture of men and women, geometrical patterns etc. The lotus motif is the most famous motif found in kanthas. Solar motif, moon motif, wheel motif, swastika motif, kalka motif, water motif, mountain motif, mosque motif are also found in kanthas. The stitches used in kantha are running stitch, bending stitch, cross stitch,  satin stitch, herringbone stitch, darning stitch. Much time is needed to prepare a nakshi kantha entirely. It depends on design and manpower employed. It generally takes a few weeks to complete it. Women empowerment makes Nakshi Kantha mainly in their leisure time. They gossip with one another and depict the pictures of their everyday life on it. With their effort, an ordinary cloth becomes a great art. Traditionally, kanthas are made for family use. But now-a-days these are also made for commercial purposes. Now we can find Nakshi Kantha in many handcraft shops in cities. However,the name Nakshi Kantha became popular after the poet Jasimuddin’s poem "Nakshi Kanthar Maath" was published is 1929. The grand quality of nakshi kantha mainly, comes from Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Rajshahi, Bogra and Jessore.

Colorful threads 

                                  

Nakshi Kantha represents the culture and daily life of rural people. It is an important part of our culture. We cannot imagine our culture without the colorful threads of Nakshi Kantha. But it is a matter of sorrow that the makers of Nakshi Kantha are not getting proper wages. At present there is a great demand of Nakshi Kantha both inside and outside of the country. Many organizations make Nakshi Kanthas such as:- Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), Karu Palli Sales Centre, Kumudini Handicrafts (cares), BRAC-Aarong. Our beloved country earns a huge amount of foreign currency by exporting Nakshi Kantha in many countries. So, our government should patronize this craft to preserve this heritage.