Located in the eastern part of India with the Himalayan Ranges at its North
and the Sunder bans at its Southern end, West Bengal is touched by all hues
of Mother
Nature.
It is also a state that has produced the fiercest freedom fighters, the best
academicians, the most celebrated poets and writers, well-known social
reformers, and extremely talented singers and dancers. The state is not just
known for producing some of India's greatest minds; it was also home to St.
Mother Teresa, the tireless missionary of Kolkata.
Terracotta Temple - Vishnupur, West Bengal, India - Photo Print
A Walk through its History
Bengal has a rich history and has seen many changes in its political scene
through the ages. From being ruled by the great Vedic kings of Maurya and
Gupta dynasties two millenniums ago, it has seen the rule of Pala and Sena
Dynasties, Turko-Afghan Sultans and other Hindu kings through the middle
ages. In the early 18th Century, after the fierce and decisive Battle of
Plassey, the reigns of the state passed onto the British Empire, who made
the current state capital Kolkata (Calcutta), the capital of the British
Empire in India. The long association with the British left an indelible
impression on the state's culture and education system and brought about
enormous social change.
The state of West Bengal was created with the partition of Bengal in 1947
along religious (Hindu-Muslim) lines whereby East Bengal (present day
Bangladesh) went to the newly created Pakistan and West Bengal remained with
the Independent India.
Life of people in rural and tribal Bengal
A state blessed with diverse topography, fertile soil, huge diversity of
flora and fauna, varied and rare wildlife including the Royal Bengal Tiger,
West Bengal's geographical location naturally lends itself to a largely
agrarian economy. Apart from agriculture, tea-plantation and processing,
other agro-based industries, small and cottage industries, cotton
textile
mills, jute mills, steel and alloy plants are prominent on the state
economic scene.
Bengal Village Scene - Poster
The undivided or pre-Independence Bengal was a huge state that included
parts of today's neighboring states like Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Bihar, and
Jharkhand and of course today's Bangladesh. The culture, cuisine and
lifestyle of people in Bengal is influenced by its nearness to the Bay of
Bengal, its various rivers including the holy Ganges, the abundance of
fertile lands, its varied topography, the impact of ruling dynasties and the
British Empire, not to mention the post-Independence development and
intermingling of people from different backgrounds.
Bengali is the official language of the state, though Hindi and English are
also spoken as second languages by many, especially in towns and cities
which are more cosmopolitan in nature than
villages.
The literacy rate in the state has improved considerably in the past two
decades due to the efforts made by various central and state government
schemes with primary education being made free in the rural areas. This has
had an obvious impact on lifestyle, attire, hygiene, occupation, and other
aspects of their daily life.
Preparing food is a labor of love for Bengalis. Though their staple is rice
and fish, the locals have perfected the preparation of each variety of fish
into an art form with the use of mustard oil for cooking and the distinct
flavoring achieved with the choicest of spices. Bengali sweet dishes like
Sandesh and Rasgulla are also popular across the country.
Most of the
rural
and tribal population is engaged in agricultural activities, while working
in industries is the second most popular occupation. Migrants from
other states like Assam, Rajasthan, Bihar, etc. are settled all over Bengal
and engaged in trading activities or working as industrial labor in the
state's many factories. Apart from that, Bengal is also home to talented
artisans and craftsmen who produce beautiful handicrafts that are popular
all over the country and are even exported to other countries.
A major part of the rural population (almost 10% of the state's population)
of Bengal consists of small and large tribal groups like Oraon, Bhutia,
Garo, Munda, Lohara, Paharia, Kora, Santhal, etc. These tribes have their
distinct language, customs, attire and history. While these tribal people
follow their own ancient rituals, traditions and festivals, most of them
have also adopted the mainstream Hindu culture, traditions and religious
festivals that are characteristic of the rest of Bengal. Durga Puja, the
most important festival of the state is celebrated by people from all
backgrounds and religions with equal fervor. While farming is the main
occupation among the tribal population, many among them are engaged in
hunting and fishing, carpentry and weaving. They are also proficient in
artistic work done on pottery, cloth, wood, cane and metals like copper and
brass and as such, earn their livelihood by creating and selling
handicrafts.
Song and Dance: An Integral Part of the Bengali Way of Life
The rich cultural heritage and creative minds of the people of Bengal are
best reflected in their traditional art forms, folk songs and dances. Rural
Bengal takes the lead in keeping the old customs and the associated song and
dance forms alive in Modern West Bengal. The folk songs and dances of Bengal
deal with a variety of themes. While some are associated with religion,
prayers, festivals and rituals, others talk about society at large, and yet
others bring religious epics to life! Let's take a close look at some of
these:
Baul Songs
Pair of Baul Singers - Batik Painting on Cloth
The Baul singers, distinctly identifiable with their long saffron robes and
matching turbans, have their origin in undivided Bengal when the society was
firmly divided as per religious affiliations of its people. Bauls, mostly
consisting of Vaishnav Hindus and Sufi Muslims, are a group of singers who
renounce their families and roam from one place to another to spread the
message of peace and the oneness of soul with the divine. Bauls have
contributed immensely to the state's music scene and have served as an
inspiration to the likes of Rabindranath Tagore, the celebrated Bengali
poet. The mystic sect uses the bamboo flute and ektara, the one stringed
musical instrument to accompany their songs. They are also credited with
inventing instruments like dotara, premjuri, etc.
Martial Dances
Bhima Chhau Dance Mask - Photo Print
There are many Bengali
folk
dances depicting mythological wars or those associated with war times
reflecting the effect of constant wars and struggles of people in the
evolution of the state's culture. Some of the prominent ones among them are
Purulia Chhau, Stick dance or Laghur Nritya, Ranapa Dance, Dhali and Paika
Nritya, Kukri Nritya, Raibense dance, etc.
Religious Songs and Dances: West Bengal, with its many religions and sects,
has a rich repertoire of religious folk songs and dance forms. These include
Gajan (song and dance form) which is performed to praise
Lord
Shiva and his consort Parvati, the Natua dance which is again related
to Shiv
Puranas
and requires acrobatic skills and proficiency in tricks with fire, the
Kirtan dance which unites people from all social and religious backgrounds,
Ganga dance devoted to the Holy Ganges, Jhumur dance, etc.
Harvest Songs and Dances
Tribal Radha Krishna - Brass Dhokra Statue
West Bengal being a primarily agrarian society, it is natural that events
and seasons related to sowing of seeds, rains and harvest are celebrated
with a lot of ardor by
village
folks, especially the farming communities. Some of the important ones
that relate to farming include Gambhira dance of Malda district which is
also associated with mythology, the Chaibari (Tea Garden) Nritya, Mech
dance, Tushu songs that are the most popular harvest songs, Nabanna
dance, Noila Broto, etc.
Some Popular Tribal Dances: These include Santhali dance, Rabha dance,
Mundari dance, Rajbanshi dance (devoted to Teesta river) etc. These dances
are performed to the accompaniment of a number of musical instruments and
are quite elaborate in nature.
Arts and Crafts of West Bengal
The people of West Bengal have tremendous respect for all kinds of
art
forms and most members of a household are engaged in learning and practicing
it in some form or other. The state has a rich cultural heritage and people
go out of their way to ensure that the traditional art forms are passed on
from generation to generation. The state has
produced some great minds and thinkers like Rabindranath Tagore - the world
renowned poet, writer, and painter who contributed immensely to the art and
music scene of the state and indeed, the whole country.
As discussed earlier, West Bengal is also famous for its beautiful
handicrafts that use a variety of materials. Let's take a look at some of
the major art and crafts of the state:
Goddess Durga - Terracotta Statue
Pottery is an art form that is prevalent all over Bengal and makes use of
the abundant river side clay from its various rivers for producing beautiful
statues, pots and pans, storage jars and even toys and colorful dolls. This
art is practiced mostly by the women of the state, especially in rural
areas. During Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the state, grand idols of
the Goddess Durga are produced by potters that then adorn the Puja Pandals
throughout the state. Terracotta sculpting is very popular and is one of the
primary forms of income in the city of Krishnanagar and Terracotta artisans
often win various national and international art awards.
Bead Necklace with Brass Dokra Pendant
Dhokra Kamar Tribe of the state practice this metal casting technique, also
known as hollow casting that uses lost wax to produce divine figurines,
jewelry, lamps, etc.
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This is one of the most famous folk-art forms in West Bengal. Artists
typically use water color to depict life in Bengal or Hindu Gods and
Goddesses in a style typical to them. The artists originally belonged to the
Kalighat provice of Kolkata, hence the name.
Batik Paintings
Devi Durga with Family - Batik Painting on Cloth
Batik paintings
are very popular in West Bengal and artists produce some striking paintings
depicting village life and Hindu Gods. Artists now create colorful Batik
paintings not only as paintings but also as motifs on Sarees, Kurtas and
other apparel.
Weaving of Muslin Cloth
Muslin, also known as mul mul is a fine cotton cloth which is being produced
in the state since 17th century and was at one time Bengal's biggest export
item, next only to Darjeeling Tea. The cool cloth is used mostly as dress
material for both ethnic and western apparels.
Kantha Embroidery Work
Appliqued Yellow Pure Silk Saree with Kantha Stitch
This is a traditional embroidery form of Bengal which is done both on cotton
and silk materials and involves mainly floral, birds and animal motifs. It
is used mainly on Dhotis and Sarees which form the traditional male and
female attire of the locals. Apart from these,
Kantha
motifs are also used on blankets, bedspreads, table cloths, etc.
Wood Carvings
Bengal artisans use wood, especially sandalwood, for carving traditional
designs depicting deities. These pieces are used as decorative panels.
Jute Products
Jute Bag with Three Zipped Pocket
Jute items
from Bengal range from carpets, decorative pieces, jewelry, bags and even
bedspreads in a variety of colors and designs. At craft fairs across the
country, jute products from Bengal have always been one of the most
appreciated and well-received items.
Others
Some of the other popular
crafts
of the state are stone carvings, bone and ivory carvings, wooden and papier
mache masks, bamboo and cane baskets, woolen carpets and Thangka paintings
from Darjeeling, cane mats from Cooch Bihar, terracotta pottery and
shitalpati mats from Dinajpur, etc.
Festivals and Fairs of West Bengal
As elsewhere in India, West Bengal too celebrates many festivals throughout
the year. While some of these have religious significance, others are
important days associated with the great sons of soil. Though the state has
a culture that's an amalgam as well as a representative of all of India and
as such all important Indian festivals are celebrated with zeal, let's take
a look at the ones that are the most widely celebrated or are unique to the
state:
Durga Puja
Durga with Her Children Slaying Mahishasura - Photo Print
Durga Puja is by far the most important festival of the state so much so
that Bengalis living outside of the travel especially to their native place
to celebrate the festival. West Bengal is transformed into a lively and
colorful place with much gaiety in the spirit of the locals who indulge in
singing, dancing, and partying during the weeklong festival. It usually
falls in the month of October. Schools are closed during the days and
markets overcrowded as people shop for new clothes during the day and visit
the innumerable Puja Pandals (temporary decorated and lit up tents) with
their grand
Goddess
Durga idols during the evenings. The whole atmosphere of the state
during these days is electric and an experience worth having.
Ganga Sagar Mela
This is one of the largest fairs held in India, indeed in the world,
considering the number of people visiting the venue - Sagardwip, an island
at the mouth of the river Hugli where it meets the sea. Celebrated on the
Makar Sakranti day in January every year, the fair is considered a
pilgrimage by Hindus who bathe in the holy waters of the river Hugli, a
distributary of the Holy Ganges.
Naba Barsha
Bengali New Year or Naba Barsha is celebrated around 14th or 15th of April
on the first day of the Bengali Calendar. The day is marked by exchange of
wishes, greetings and sweets and visits to temple by the locals.
Eid
West Bengal has a significant Muslim population and Eid-ul-Fitr is
celebrated after the holy month of Ramzan followed by Eid-ul-Juha a couple
of months later. Festivities include visits to mosques, preparation of
special Eid delicacies, and exchange of greetings.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose - Poster
Netaji has been one of the most venerated freedom fighters and his birth
anniversary on 23rd January is celebrated across the state with young boys
and girls parading in military uniform to pay a tribute to his Indian
National Army.
Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti
Dakshineshwar Kali with Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Sarada Ma - Brass Statue
The birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the well known mystic
and religious leader who inspired his disciple Swami Vivekananda to found
the Ramakrishna Mission, is celebrated in early March. The festival held at
the Mission headquarters attracts lakhs of devotees every year.
Rabindra Jayanti
Baul Rabindranath - Terracotta Wall Hanging
Rabindranath Tagore's name is synonymous with art and culture and his birth
anniversary on 7th May is marked by cultural activities like, singing,
dancing, drama, as well as seminars and talks on his life and times.
Saraswati Puja
Saraswati - Wood Inlaid Wall Hanging
Saraswati (the
Goddess of Learning) Puja is celebrated on Basant Panchami Day, usually in
the month of January/February. The day sees students and artists worshipping
the Goddess with prayers and flowers clad in traditional attire. Small kids
are initiated into the learning phase of their lives by getting them to
touch pen, ink and paper for the first time while students and artists keep
their books and instruments at the feet of the idol to receive her
blessings.
Rath Yatra
Mahesh Rath Yatra or chariot festival has been celebrated for centuries with
much fanfare in the states of Odisha and West Bengal. The festival involves
taking out a procession of chariots carrying
Lord
Jagannath with devotees pulling the ropes of the chariot.
Christmas
The state has a sizeable
Christian
population and given the modern Indian outlook of celebrating every festival
as its own,
Christmas
is celebrated with a lot of good cheer and zeal by people from all walks of
life. Market places are decorated with Christmas trees and lights. Gifts are
exchanged and tradition Christmas fare prepared in Christian households.
Buddha Jayanti
The hill cities of Kalimpong and Darjeeling are mostly inhabited by
followers of Buddha and the birth anniversary of
Lord
Buddha is celebrated by their disciples in the month of May by
reciting scriptures, offering prayers, indulging in group meditation and
visiting monasteries.
Apart from the above, there are many local festivals like Vishnupur
festival, Jhapan, Joydev Mela, etc. are also celebrated colorfully in towns
and cities associated with these festivals.
Typical Weddings and Costumes in West Bengal
As with everything else, weddings in Bengal are elaborate events that are
solemnized following a long list of rituals and customs. In fact, the whole
process of selecting a suitable groom or bride is also steeped in traditions
in case of an arranged marriage whereby the gotra (or lineage) is checked to
ensure the boy and girl do not have same ancestors. Once the match is
decided, other rituals follow:
Pre-wedding rituals
Ashirbaad (Blessing): This is the formal engagement ceremony and
involves a meeting of the two families along with an exchange of gifts. The
elders of the family bless the would-be couple and sweets are served.
Vridhi Puja (Ancestor Prayer): It involves offering of prayers to
ancestors and is held a couple of days prior to the wedding.
Aai Budo Bhaat (Wedding Eve Dinner): This ritual is akin to the
bride's last supper in her home before she takes the wedding vows the next
morning. As such, it is organized at a very grand scale.
Dodhi Mongol: This ritual requires a few married women to visit the
river Ganga, or any other nearby river or pond along with the groom and
fetch water from it in a pitcher after inviting the Goddess Ganga to the
wedding. This water is used to bathe the bride and the groom.
Gaye Holud (Turmeric Ceremony): This takes place for both the bride
and the groom at their respective homes and involves applying turmeric paste
on their faces. This is of special significance for the bride as the
turmeric is said to give a glow to her face. Groom's family visits the
bride's family with gifts and a raw, decorated fish.
Wedding Rituals
Welcoming the Groom: Both the bride and the groom take bath and get
dressed in their wedding finery once the early morning rituals are over. The
Bor Jatri (groom and his relatives and friends) then proceed to the wedding
venue where they are welcomed in a traditional way, using Baran Dala, by
bride's mother with conch shells blowing in the background. The groom is
then led to the wedding Mandap (a decorated canopy), seated and gifted new
clothes.
The Ceremony: The bride has to cover her eyes with betel leaves till
she is carried by her brothers around the groom seven times. After this, she
is allowed to look at the groom and they exchange garlands thrice. This is
followed by the giving away ceremony or sampradan whereby the father places
the bride's hands in the groom's amid a chant of mantras and with the holy
fire as the witness to the wedding ceremony. The bride and the groom make
seven circles round the fire to signify their union for seven births. The
ceremony is complete with the groom putting sindoor on his bride's hair
part.
Post-wedding Rituals
Bidaai: This is an emotional event with the bride bidding farewell to
her family before leaving for the groom's house.
Rituals at the Groom's House: The bride dips her feet in aalta or red dye
before stepping into the groom's house. The newly-weds spend the first night
in separate rooms. The next day, the bride prepares food, usually a sweet,
for the family. Later in the day, the couple visits their wedding site to
pray to the Sun God. At night, the couple spends their first night together
on a bed decorated with flowers.
Bengali Bridal Doll - Cloth Doll
The traditional Bengali groom costume consists of a silken Dhoti-Kurta
ensemble over which a silk cloth is draped during the wedding ceremony. The
groom also wears the traditional head gear known as Topor which is a
beautifully made paper hat.
The bride usually wears a Benarsi
silk
sari with a white base and a border in red, maroon or pink hues. Of
course, with time there have been changes in the attire and gold and zari
work saris in various shades of red are preferred by many brides. The bride
applies tika on her forehead to symbolize the
Goddess
lakshmi and alta on her hands and feet for prosperity. Traditional
gold ornaments
including hathphools (worn on hands and fingers), kaanpasha (elaborate
earrings), nath (nose piece), hansuli, chik, panchnari (traditional
necklaces), etc. are a must to complete the bridal look. Like brides
everywhere, a traditional Bengali bride aims to look her best on her wedding
day.
The various facets of the state of West Bengal can never be described in
words. One must experience it oneself to understand the passion that its
people bring to life. Be it education, sports, culture, cinema, family life
or religion, the state has always enriched the culture of the country as a
whole.