Zainul Festival boosts traditional handicrafts

Nakshi Kantha, displaying traditional Bangalee culture, drew fashion-loving people at the Zainul Festival and earned handsome amounts for their producers. PHOTO: STAR

The five-day festival marking 90th birth anniversary of great painter Zainul Abedin concluded yesterday.

Nakshi Kantha, a traditional rural item, embroidered bedcover and saree, decorated wall mat, fashionable garments and handicrafts displayed at the 14 makeshift stalls drew crows in large numbers every day.

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Different organizaitions in Mymensingh and Jamalpur making handicrafts jointly organised the fair.

Delwara Begum, owner of one such organisation in Jamalpur said she sold Tk 35,000 handicrafts at the fair.

People are showing interest in indigenous items. This is a great inspiration for us, she told this correspondent yesterday.

Golam Mustafa of Ideal Step for Sustainable Development (ISSD), an NGO producing handicrafts, said sales are 'good'. Such festival helps popularise our indigenous goods.

Housewife Monisha Rani, who bought a Nakshi Kantha at Tk 1200 said she is happy to buy an item which depicts Bangalee culture.

Anwara Sultana, a student of local Government Ananda Mohan College who bought a decorated wall mat said we should revive our rich cultural heritage.

A pitha (cake) shops on the Zainul Gallery premises was another charm for the visitors who relished on various traditional indigenous winter cakes.

The festival programme included discussion on the life and works of Zainul Abedin, cultural functions, drama and painting competitions. Zainul's admirers from India and Pakistan also attended the inaugural function on December 25.