The Bright Artisans in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country where its people have unconditional emotion and love towards their traditions. A rich tradition of crafts and arts is highly valued in this country. The people of small towns and villages of Bangladesh have kept their ancient traditions alive till now by practicing their ancient arts and crafts. Artisans in Bangladesh have sustained their family trades for a long time with their occupation.

Artisans in Bangladesh used to create handmade necessary goods with clays, woods, canes, jute, metal, bamboo, etc, and design them with bright colors uniquely that would uphold their traditions. Furniture, potters, bags, showpieces, ornaments, etc were crafted by these artisans.

These arts and crafts have been used as daily necessaries and types of furniture for decorating homes since ancient times. The ancient kings of this region used to admire these artisans for their magnificent handcrafts and reward.

Traditional Handicrafts Of Bangladesh That Rules Over People’s Heart and Life

Traditional handicrafts have been used popularly in Bangladesh as they satisfy regular needs along with upholding traditional virtues at the same time. Bangladeshi people’s affection towards their culture has made these handicrafts and artworks still available for everyone. You may know about some popular traditional handicrafts and artworks of Bangladesh but have you ever learned how they are made with both religious and aesthetic love? Here are the most popular handicraft works of Bangladesh along with the knowledge of how they are made.

Nakshi Kantha- Embroidered Quilt

Nakshi Kantha is one of the most forms of homemade art in Bangladesh. You may know them as embroidered quilts that are stitched with several layers of clothes. Generally, the women of rural areas’ villages design these astonishing stitch crafts and picture square patterns.

Nakshi Kantha (embroidered quilts) were mostly stitched with free hands by the rural living women in their leisure time.

They do not use any special cloth or cotton for these quilts. With amusing creativity, these quilts (Nakshi Kantha) were made by stitching several layers of old clothes together.

Nakshi Kantha is a popular traditional art used almost everywhere in Bangladesh. This handicraft was designed with some unique patterns or designs of flowers, leaves, stars, birds, fishes, elephants, etc. These embroidered quilts are still now being used for pillow covers, bedsheets, mattresses, blankets, prayer mats, etc.

At the arrival of any festival, Nakshi Kantha embroideries are used for designing combs, mirrors, dining mats, bags, and covers for the food. These embroidery designs make the necessary commodities look both fancy and traditional which is why Nakshi Kantha is still used all around the country. The people of Bangladesh appreciate this traditional handicraft so much that Nakshi Kantha is now made for commercial purposes by NGOs.

Pottery Crafts- Sakher Handi

Potteries are inexpensive and usable for many purposes. Bangladesh’s handicrafts of pottery are popular worldwide for their creative designs and outlooks. These utensils are made with clay which is why these potteries are so inexpensive.

Artisans in Bangladesh have practiced making potteries with clay for a long time. Soon they got the idea of showing their culture and tradition by designing those potteries. They made “Sakher Handi” which is a clay pot painted with designs and symbols.

As these potteries had designs of leaves, flowers, birds, and other things that illustrated Bangladeshi culture, people have been using Sakher Handi as showpieces instead of using them necessary.

Sakher Handi is now used for holding flowers to decorate the home traditionally. If you have ever participated in any festivals in Bangladesh then you may know that these pots are used to carry gifts, fruits, and sweets, especially at weddings.

The artisans in Bangladesh still manage to make a good earning by making “Sakher Handi’ as a lot of people buy these potteries to gift to their favorite people. If you want to gift anything to someone who loves the culture and tradition of Bangladesh then you can send your gift inside a ‘Sakher Handi’ to make it look more pleasing.

Bamboo Crafts

Bamboo crafting is another popular handicraft part of Bangladesh. The creative artisans and craftsmen of rural areas make different furniture and necessary commodities from bamboo. Bamboo craft has been practiced for centuries as the ancient thrives of Bangladesh used to build houses from bamboo. This inspired them to use bamboo for further purposes as it was easily available for them. From home building to farming, the artisans in Bangladesh have made the best use of bamboo to use it in every possible way.

In modern times, bamboo crafts are used for making stylish furniture and household commodities that reflect the traditional past of the people of Bangladesh. Bamboos are now used for making sofas, chairs, tables, racks, baskets, and many other furniture. These furniture crafts are designed with floral motifs and geometric patterns that uphold their culture with magnificence.

Musical instruments such as Ektara and flute are also made of bamboo in Bangladesh. In rural areas where electricity is still often unavailable, people make fancy hand fans from bamboo and design them beautifully with flowers, birds, and tree shapes.

Jute Crafts

Aren’t jute crafts popular all around the world? No matter where you live you may have used jute-crafted commodities. But did you know that Bangladesh is the biggest platform of jute craft in modern times? This country was enriched with jute production for a long time. So, the people of Bangladesh have been using jute to make many handicrafts with their creative skills. Apart from being the raw material for bags, mats, and hanging bags, jute is also used for hessian and carpet.

“Sika” is a type of string bag made of jute that is used in Bangladesh to hang foods so that they are out for children and animals to reach. Sika gives a very charming decoration to their kitchens and dining rooms which is mostly seen in Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh still use Sika instead of racks just to show love towards their culture and tradition.

The bags, carpets, and mats made of jute crafts are being used all over the world. This popularity and demand for jute craft have made Bangladeshi artisans’ livelihood better. They are now exporting their handicraft jute commodities and expanding Bangladeshi culture.

Nakshi Pati & Other Cane Crafts

Cane craft is similar to bamboo craft but it has been used popularly even in modern times. Cane is just like bamboo but they are much easier to shape and adjust thus, cane craft has made it easy to create traditional handicrafts with additional uses. The people of Bangladesh have been using cane crafts to make household items of furniture and fancy showpieces for a long time.

In the old times, they used to make fancy cane crafts to gift to their dear ones. Soon it became a profession for the artisans in Bangladesh as they could make these handicrafts with creative designs that had the presence of cultural ambiance.

Table lamps, chairs, tables, baskets, hookah holders, etc were made with attractive designs at a cheap cost by cane crafts. The most popular use of cane crafts was with “Nakshi Pati”. Nakshi Pati means fancy mats that were used in urban areas of Bangladesh for comfort and attractiveness. Nakshi Pati (pictorial mat) and Shital Pati (cool mat) are still used to make the house look filled with Bangladeshi cultures.

The artisans in Bangladesh are still having a good income from making cane crafts such as “Shital Pati” as they are still popular for the comfort and beauty that no other mat provides.

Ornamental Woodworks- Wood Carving Crafts

If you live in Bangladesh then you have seen the uniqueness of designs for their wooden furniture and doors. For a very long time, the people of this region have been using wood carving crafts to design their home doors, door frames, beds, windows, seats, etc. They have been using this design to show how their traditional lifestyle.

They use wooden carving designs of flowers, and other natural things to show the fancy lifestyle their tradition leads to. You may also find boats with peacock heads and pillars with wooden carving designs. Many people use wooden cases for musical instruments that are made with these ornamental woodworks.

Among all types of wooden crafts, wood carving crafts of door designs are mostly seen in Bangladesh.  They use different cultural symbols in their doors. The door of mosques have prayers written by carving wood. Temples have their goddess’ names and statue designs carved in woods. People of higher society use heavy designs for their entrance doors and doorframes to show love towards their country and its cultures.

Conch Shell Crafts

Conch shell crafts are very popular in the West Bengal region. Conch shell crafting has been practiced since Hinduism as these were used in many festivals and religious tasks of Hindus. The Hindus of Bangladesh use conch shells on a few festivals to blow it and oust evil from their society. This tradition has been followed for centuries thus conch shell crafts are also crafted for centuries. The Hindu women of Bangladesh use conch shells to form their jewelry such as bangles and necklaces. They have a tradition of forming their first bangles of marriage in a conch shell.

The artisans in Bangladesh collect conch shells from seashores and clean them properly before making any changes to their shape. As the conch shells are hard, they form in any shape with love and care without breaking it. To show more love and beauty towards the Hinduism culture of Bangladesh, conch shells are designed with many artistic patterns so that they look charming for any festival.

Metal Crafts

Metal commodities have been used in Bangladeshi culture as table lamps, ashtrays, pitchers, mugs, glasses, plates, flower vases, ring bells, silver ornaments, and containers for makeup, food, dress, etc. The women of Bangladesh have been using metal ornaments from the very beginning of their tradition.

Gold and silver ornaments have been used for almost every occasion and festival of every religion in Bangladesh. The gold and silver ornaments are designed with amazing and unique designs. The women of Bangladesh wear ornaments such as necklaces and ankle bracelets as a symbol of wealth and happiness before marriage. 

After marriage, they wear nose pin ornaments and bangles as the symbol of the love of their marriage. People have been gifting these ornaments to their dear ones from the very beginning of their culture.

Folk Arts

The folk arts of Bangladesh are admired by everyone. We are not talking about crafts as folk arts are different. The artists of Bangladesh uphold their cultural love and passion by putting artworks in every little necessary thing. These arts are made with so much passion that anyone would be able to understand the Bangladeshi culture just by looking at the arts.

People of Bangladesh often use arts to symbolize happiness during many festivals. At present, the culture has been developed to an institutional level. Here are some of the traditional arts that symbolize happiness and love.

Alpana- Floor Paintings

Alpana is the finest of Bangladesh Artwork. Alpana is mainly associated with Hindus and their cultural programs but it does not have any special meaning.

On many religious days, Hindus paint their home entrance with Alpana. Alpana is no special paint but it is made of pounded rice which is the main material of painting.

Hindus believe that their goddess of happiness would enter their house by stepping on that Alpana which is a joyful moment.

Muslims, Hindus & other religions’ marriage ceremony functions are also decorated with Alpana.

lpana is painted in these ceremonies as the symbol of happiness. At present, the art of Alpana is taught in institutions, and Alpana arts are made in many national functions to show love towards Bangladeshi culture.

Daruchitra- Ancient Wood Arts

Daruchitra means arts on wooden surfaces. Along with wood carving designs, wood arts are also highly popular in Bangladesh for their easy affordability. The people of Bangladesh have been using painted wooden doors and door frames to welcome guests with pleasure. This culture is still followed by incredible door arts designed by professional artisans in Bangladesh.

Along with wooden door arts, Daruchitra painted wooden pillars, windows, boat prows, palanquins, toys, and showpieces are also used all around this country. All wooden furniture and decorations of their houses are painted with Daruchitra to show their pleasant lifestyle and culture. Some people also use this art to show off a luxurious lifestyle.

Painted Masks

The painted masks art of Bangladesh is also a crucial part of handicrafts. If you have seen any festival in Bangladesh then you must have seen their enjoyment of dance and acting. For this type of festival, they paint masks of their ancient lords and goddesses’ faces and wear them to put on an act. In any dance at their festival, all the dancers have to wear the same design masks which shows equality among them. If you want to celebrate any festival like Bangladesh then you can try out these painted masks for everyone around you.

Patachitra- Traditional Scroll Paintings

Patachitra is also known as “Patuyas” in Bangladesh. These arts are used to illustrate their ancient kings and the goddess’s idols. Many religious occasions of Hindus and Buddhists use Patachitra to describe their ancient lifestyle and stories. Skilled artisans of this country are still making this art to illustrate their traditional stories and cultures in many religious programs.

There are two types of Patachitras in Bangladesh. The first one is a square canvas picture and the second one is multiple pictures on a long roll. These illustration pictures are painted on silk/linen cloths. On many occasions, the artists paint these illustration pictures roll of up to 30 pictures to illustrate their ancient stories. Such an astonishing dedication to art shows how much love they have for their ancient goddesses and cultures. The modern Patachitra is painted with western paintings but their painting canvas and cloth surfaces are still the same.

Ghatachitra- Pitcher Paintings

Ghatachitra is also a traditional form of art. The people who love and respect the formal culture and tradition of Bangladesh still have these types of pitchers decored in their houses.

You may have seen the pitchers that are used to carry water but these pitchers are not used for normal purposes. Ghatachitra pitchers are designed by believed ancient gods of Hinduism and Buddhists.

They are painted with symbols of these goddesses’ powers and their idol poses. The most popular Gjatachitra of Bangladesh is Manasa which is a design of Nagaghats that depicts a hooded snake.

It is a snake with eight heads which symbolizes power. Another popular form of Ghatachitra is the design of the goddess Lakhsmi which symbolizes the goddess of wealth.

Exclusive Artisans Of Dhaka- The Capital Of Bangladesh

Dhaka is the heart of Bangladesh. Dhaka is situated in the center of this region’s map but some special historic tasks have made this the most popular city in this country. Most of these countries’ industrial platforms are situated in this place. In the past, all the arts and crafts of Bangladesh have been developed in Dhaka. Dhaka is separately famous for its special artisans and crafts. Here are some of the most exclusive arts and crafts of Bangladesh which are situated in Dhaka.

Block Printing Designs Of New Market

Block printing is a traditional decoration of clothing. It is a print design for clothes that are known to be the fanciest dresses for occasions and festivals in Bangladesh. These types of dresses have been loved by women for centuries. At many festivals, block-printing-designed dresses are worn by women decorated with ornaments.

For block printing dresses, an area named “Newmarket” in Dhaka is known to be the most popular place. If you ever go to Newmarket for clothes shopping then you will see a lot of women entrepreneurs working in clothing shops or tailors. These entrepreneurs are skilled in making unique and fancy block printing cloth designs.

The block printing designed cloth of Bangladesh is also handcrafted. Thus, it is affordable for all types of people living around the country. At present, the women entrepreneurs of Bangladesh have developed the textile section so much that their artistic fashion sense has become a modern style all around the world.

Many Bangladeshi citizens living outside the country wear these clothes to uphold the honor of their country and its tradition. These clothes are highly demanded all around the world by the citizens of Bangladesh during special festivals like Eid, Bangla new year, Pooja, etc.

Dhamrai Metal Craft

Dhamrai is the central place of Bangladesh’s Art and crafts of metal. We have previously told you about the metal crafts of Bangladesh that have been used for centuries for their importance. Dhamrai is a place where this metal craft art is practiced with high dedication and passion. Dhamrai is located in a corner of Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka.

This place has the most metal crafting factories where the artisans have been practicing this art from their family bond. Every artisan of this place has its unique style and sense of crating metal statues and other products.

The most important metal craft of Bangladesh is statues. The local people of this area have been making statues of their goddesses which were crafted so that they could pray in front of that statue. A few families in this place have been doing this work for centuries which is being followed by their family legacy.

These people do not earn so much but they are highly devoted to their country’s culture and religion which is the reason for their consistency. At present, the statues made in Dhamrai village are exported all over the world as religious idols. Because of these artisans’ religious virtues, they always provide their skilled metal crafts at a very low cost.

Rickshaw Decoration Shop

A rickshaw is a three-wheeled vehicle that is a common sight in Dhaka. This vehicle is popular for tourists as a ride on a rickshaw gives them the most enjoyable sight of Bangladeshi nature. There are more than four hundred thousand rickshaws roaming inside Dhaka. To make this cultural rickshaw ride more enjoyable, the artisans of Dhaka design these rickshaws with different decorations.

The seats and the cover hoodies of the rickshaws are designed with cultural patterns in Bangladesh. They are also designed with pattern designs such as birds, tigers, elephants, and many other historic things that are available in Bangladesh.

There are several stores of rickshaw decoration artisans in Bangladesh who design these rickshaw prints with their hands only. The materials used in this art are also inexpensive. Thus, the drivers of the rickshaws always design their rickshaws with fancy prints and arts. In many abroad festivals of Bangladeshi citizens, they use these designed rickshaws to show off their country’s magnificence of handcrafting.

Famous Wood Carving Carpenter Shops Of Dhaka

Wood carpenter shops of Dhaka are another top artistic place. Even though there are many carpenters all around Bangladesh who are skilled in wood carving crafts but the artisans of Dhaka are the most popular place for this art. The carpenter shops of Dhaka have been crafting handmade wood carving designs for decades.

These wood crafts have been so popular that their furniture is now being exported to abroad countries. These Carpenter shops usually design wooden bed frames, doors, door frames, tables, and many other wooden home decoratives.

This artistic furniture is not just used as a necessity but you can get an amusing traditional ambiance in your house if you have them. The woodcraft artisans take a very cheap cost for their skills in designing and arts. They just price the furniture according to the wood amount and cost they had to bear in making the furniture with a little bit of extra wage.

You can get these magnificent wood-carving crafted furniture in your house even if you live abroad. By doing this, you will feel the presence of love you used to get from your country when you were here and also raise your traditional standards.

Lifestyle & Livelihood Of The Traditional Artisans In Bangladesh

We have asked both rural living artisans and industrial artisans of Bangladesh about their livelihood and lifestyle. The industrial artisans are working for big industries that are working on developing their country’s arts and crafts and making it easier for country-loving people to work with what they love. They work as a group of teams who offer their arts and they are all appreciated in the market. But sometimes, problems like wage cuts occur due to which the artisans protest for their rights.

The rural artisans are mostly old-aged or women. They do work in their professions to earn their livelihood as they do not get enough earnings from their arts. These arts cost less but they take a lot of skills and time so the rural people practice these traditional arts and handcrafts just because they love working as an artisan for their honoring their tradition.

The rural artisans are often neglected as their skills and arts are limited to specific areas. In modern times, the people and the government of Bangladesh have taken some crucial steps so that they can improve the rural artisans’ lifestyle and livelihood as they want to encourage them in their artistic skills of handcrafting and creativity.

The Bond Of Love Between The Artisans And People Of Bangladesh Who Are Living Abroad

Are you born in Bangladesh and is living as an immigrant at present? Then you have felt the need for your culture’s presence in your daily lifestyle. How do you express your cultures and traditions to the abroad people? You may not know but the artisans help the immigrants to uphold their own culture with honor.

The artisans in Bangladesh have been developing their arts and crafts with instinct consistency so that their traditions are known all over the world. If you have these precious and unique handicrafts and arts with you, then you can uphold your Bangladeshi cultures and values in any corner of the world.

The crafts and arts of Bangladesh are hardly familiar to people who have never visited Bangladesh. You can amuse the foreigners by showing your cultural home decorative furniture crafts and daily necessary commodities that are crafted with unique designs by Bangladeshi artisans. These would help you introduce your country’s traditions and cultures.

Showing Love For Bangladeshi Tradition & Artisans

No matter where you live or how advanced your lifestyle is, your introduction is made by your country. This introduction requires your country’s specialties in many forms. The most unique and fancy specialty of the people of Bangladesh are their artisans and handcrafting skills. But many people forget that this specialty would remain till the day the artisans of Bangladesh are available.

At present, people do not show any respect or love towards the artisans as they are mostly illiterate and earn a little amount of money. Thus, the future generations are not willing to practice their country’s traditions and arts which is going to affect the Bangladeshi culture.

We should always respect and encourage the artisans and the future generation for practising these handcrafting arts. We can encourage them by helping them earn more. Aren’t they used for the same purposes as modern tools? Why don’t we use them instead of following other regions’ inventions? If we use the artistic handicrafts made by our artisans and encourage other people of different regions to do the same by showing our artisans beautiful skills and crafts, then we can help our artisans earn more and help our country grow further.

Final Verdict