Nakshi Kantha - A Beautiful Embroidery Art

Nakshi Kantha, A Centuries-old Bengali Art Tradition

Bangladesh is one of the world's smallest countries yet has a rich tradition and culture. Nakshi kantha is one of the old traditional art of Bangladesh. It is a type of traditional stitching. The term 'nakshi' is derived from the Bengali word 'naksha' which refers to decorative patterns and 'kantha' refers to quilts. The basic material used is thread and cloth. It is an important component of Bengali culture. Various forms of design, flowers, birds, and herbs are embroidered on the cloth with red, blue, yellow, and other colours by combining the sweetness of the mind. Bengali ladies have been making nakshi kantha in their spare time and it takes months or even years to finish a kantha. It is an element of West Bengal and Bangladeshi culture. In the seams of sewing, the image of rural Bengali life has been reproduced on the body of kantha.

History of Nakshi Kantha

It is impossible to pinpoint the exact date at when the practice of embroidering different motifs on kanthas began. It is one of the earliest types of Indian embroidery, dates back to the pre-Vedic period (before 1500 BCE). Millions of South Asian women still perform the ancient Indian stitching technique, which has its roots in the most basic of circumstances. This art form, which originated in Bengal's rural villages, went extinct in the early 19th century before being reintroduced in the 1940s. When India was divided in 1947, the revival of kantha was again interrupted. Finally, kantha has seen a rebirth of its own as a highly appreciated and widely desirable art-craft form since the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971). 

Nakshi Kantha in Bangladesh

Nakshi kantha is a part of the culture of Bangladesh. The market for Nakshi Kantha, which was once a relatively minor portion of Bangladesh's cottage economy, now generates about 120 crore BDT annually. The market is growing around 15 percent per year. Although nakshi kanthas are made all throughout Bangladesh, the greater Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Bogra, Rajshahi, Faridpur, and Jessore, Chittagong districts are the most well-known for this art form. However, Jamalpur Sadar Upazila is where the majority of the organizations in this sector are located. Its receipt is particularly evident in Jamalpur City. All of the upazilas in the Jamalpur district manufacture nakshi kantha, and there are now about 300 organizations operating in this sector. Because of this, many refer to Jamalpur district as the "City of Handicrafts" and cite "Nakshi Kantha" as the district's trademark.

Different Types of Nakshi Kantha

Based on the shapes, sizes, motifs, borders, stitches and usage there are many types of kanthas with different names; such as lep kantha, sujani kantha, baiton kantha, oaar kantha, archilata kantha, thalia kantha and rumal kantha. The majority of kantha are used as lightweight coverlets during Bengal's mild winters and breezy monsoon nights. Nowadays nakshi kantha art products include bed covers, kamiz, cushion covers, sarees, skirts, yokes, purses, pillow covers, prayer mats, TV covers, saree piers, floor mats, shawls etc. In Bangladesh and even overseas, nakshi kantha sarees and scarves are very popular among women.

Price Range of Nakshi Kantha Products

The value of Nakshi items is rising both domestically and internationally. Buyers from all over the world, particularly those in the US, European, and Middle Eastern markets, have fallen in love with it. Additionally, quilt makers are getting a lot of orders after exhibiting their goods at regional and international events. Thousands of different variations of Nakshi products are produced in Bangladesh, and the typical cost varies from 20 USD to 330 USD depending on the design and material.

Women Employment and Empowerment

Making and selling nakshi kanthas has significantly increased employment opportunities for women, especially in the rural Bangladesh.  Fifteen Bangladeshi companies are currently exporting nakshi kantha in more than 20 countries. And around 3 lakh people are employed directly and indirectly by the nakshi kantha sector, 90% of them are women. The women create these lovely quilts at home in their leisure time. Many physically challenged and divorced women have been helped by the industry to become self-sufficient and support their family financially.