India ‘s oldest NGO Bengal Home Industries Association organised “Spring Fest ” to empower artisans

By : Partha Roy

A two-days “Spring Fest” was organised by probably India ‘s oldest NGO ” Bengal Home Industries Association (BHIA)” at its premises on Rashbehari Avenue in  Kolkata.
In Spring Fest,  artisans showcased crafts of jute , dokra , basketry , mora, shola , oyster shell and a few others on 10th and 11th February 2023.

Artisans from different districts of West Bengal participated in the festival and gave live demonstration of their crafts.

Puppeteers  entertained the visitors with puppetry and folk music of Bengal.

Festival also showcased wide range of high quality handloom and handcrafted textile products including silk ,linen , a range of home made food products  including pickles of various fruits, wide range of home decor items including home furnishings items , lamp shades, wooden items , terracotta items including toys and many more.
A wide range of high quality women wears including sarees, scraves , jackets , jewellery from shells and other eco-friendly items were on display .
Spring Fest was visited by diplomats , elites of the society, including foreigners visiting Kolkata ,many of whom  were awe- struck by high quality craftsmanship of various products on display and sale .
Festival provided buyers opportunities to interact directly with craftspersons and to get insight into  various crafts.

An audio-visual talk on  ” Massart” of Durga idols was presented by architect & public art specialist  Sayantan Maitra  to  give birds eye view on wide range of  craftsmanship involved in creation of Durga Puja idols and pandals  in Kolkata as well as availablity of  unique creative talents as human resources in Bengal . In fact, Durga Puja of Kolkata has received intangible heritage  of humanity certification and honour from UNESCO.

Spring Fest was brain child of Mrs. Nandini Mahtab, wife of Dr. P. C. Mahtab , current President of Bengal Home Industries Association  and Head of Royal Family of Burdwan  whose grand father was one of the Patron and founder  member of  Bengal Home Industries Association in 1916 alongwith Lady Carmichael , famed artist Shri Gaganendranath Tagore and many other public spirited elite citizens of Kolkata of the time. Mrs. Nandini Mahtab is Princess of  Royal families of  Joyentia Hills  & Rangpur now in Bangladesh. Mrs. Nandini Mahatab is directly involved in  promotion of  decaying and dying arts & crafts of Bengal over last several decades  and successfully rejuvenating the dying art & crafts by creating infrastructure , providing resources, including funding ,raw materials etc to artists and crafts persons . Mrs. Mahtab also facilitating marketing of various creative artworks and  products of artisans and crafts persons through Bengal Home Industries Association outlet.
  Spring Fest opening ceremony was attended by Shri. G M Kapoor State President of INTACH , Ms. Nayantara Pal Choudhary Honorary Consul of Norway in Kolkata , famed & iconic personalities Smt. Gini Sen , Smt. Madhuchhanda Karlekar , Smt. Mahua Bose, Shri Shankar Bose , Shri Rajesh Sen and other members of management committee of Bengal Home Industries Association besides Mrs. Nandini Mahtab.

In the noble effort to support the arts and crafts of Bengal as well as artisans and crafts persons , Bengal Home Industries Association is providing access to many products through its website
https://bengalhome.in .