Nabanna

Nabanna literally means 'Nobo-Onno', or New Rice. This is a Bengali harvest celebration usually celebrated with food, dance and music.

The festival of Nabanna in the Bengali month of Agrohyon (November) is an important event in the agrarian calendar of Bengal, and is a form of thanksgiving for prosperity. Nabanna is celebrated by worshipping the Golaghor (storehouse). Festivities include making traditional cakes named "pitha". It is West Bengal Jute Craft The jute fibre is derived from the reed like jute plant. West Bengal, with plenty of rainfall and a humid climate, suits the growth of the jute plant. It is the second most popular natural plant fibre and is available in abundance in the sate. Jute fibre is used in West Bengal to make bags, rugs, carpets, hangings, footwear, coasters and many other things. When the plant is ready for harvesting, it is cut very close to the ground and left on the ground for a day or two until the leaves fall off. This is followed by a process called retting when the the cut plant is dipped in water to separate the fibre. Once separated, the jute is dried and given various forms. The fibre is knit into threads. Sometimes the threads are woven to make rugs, cloth and other items. Very fine quality jute is also used today to make furnishing material and dresses. Source: http://www.craftandartisans.com/jute-craft.html Contributed by: Prarthana, CEE Ahmedabad celebrated in different parts of Bengal with local flavors and styles. It typically honors the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and fertility. According to folk custom, a community cannot enjoy the new rice crop until Lakshmi is first offered nabanna ("new food" or "new rice"). Farmers will cut and husk a special variety of rice and typically offer it prepared as rice porridge. In some cases, ancestral spirits and local deities are also the intended recipients of the offering. Other customs during the festival include greeting the moon with lamps, giving children gifts and sweetened milk, and offering rice and other types of food to crows.

Source: encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.co

Contributed by: Atashi Ray, CEE Kolkata

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Muslin Fabric

This gossamer light muslin fabric has found mention in the writings of many visitors to India, even as far back as the 3rd century B.C. A great deal of muslin was produced in and exported from Bengal. Dacca was the main region where cotton was cultivated due to the high humidity of the region, which prevented the delicate thread from breaking on contact with the air. The cotton spun was very white since the Brahmaputra and the Ganges Rivers have bleaching properties. The chikan workers in Bengal used this fine muslin for embroidery.

Stitches in Chikankari

Double-Star Earring, Peacock Feather's Eye, Sidhual, Makra, Mandarzi, Bulbulchashm, Tajmahal, Phooljali, Phanda, Dhoom, Gol, murri, Janjeera, Keel, Kangan, Bakhia, Dhania Patti, lambi Murri, Kapkapi, Karan Phool, Bijli, Ghaspatti, Rozan, Meharki, Kaj, Chameli, Chane ki Patti, Balda, Jora, Pachni, Tapchim Kauri, Hathkati and Daraj of various types.