Shola - A handicraft legacy of Bengal
One of the traditional crafts of Bengal, sholapith art has been in practice for long and is used in various religious and social customs. It is also an eco-friendly craft which found its origin in the myths. Shola is an eco-friendly, biodegradable, durable and renewable resource.
Shola Home Décor
Shola Gajra
What is sholapith art?
It is one of the traditional crafts of Bengal which has been in practice since long. Sholapith also known as shola or Indian cork (Aeschynomene aspera) is a white soft core extracted from the stem of the spongy plant and then used in the art to make beautiful things. Traditionally the artform has been said to have a divine and mythical origin and as it is white in colour, it is considered to be pure and auspicious and thus used in various religious and social customs.
The folklore...
The sholapith works, commonly known as sholar kaaj, have a dedicated community of artisans engaged in the work known as Malakar (maker of garland). According to the folklores associated to their origin, when Lord Shiva was on his way to marry Himalaya’s daughter, Goddess Parvati, he requested Lord Vishwakarma, the god of creative powers to make him a white crown for his wedding. But Lord Vishwakarma failed to deliver the crown and then Lord Shiva created a man named Malakar, who created the headgear, garland and other accessories from the soft core of the plant. And since then the Malakars worship Lord Shiva as they believe that their existence is his blessing.
The Many Uses...
The shola art is popularly seen during Durga Puja as many traditional pandals still opt for the daaker saaj or sholar saaj. Even the idol makers of Kumartuli, who traditionally produced clay idols, have taken to making idols of sholapith and fiberglass. furthermore, it is also used as puppets of Murugacha in Nadia, decorative items, intricately carved objects like miniature landmarks and figurines, and a wide variety of home décor items.
Where are they made?
Currently, about 5000 artisans practice this craft, painstakingly creating each work of art which sometimes takes months to complete. Keernahar in Birbhum, Uttar Dinajpur, Bhatibari in Alipurduar, Murshidabad, Bankapashi in Bardhaman, Muragacha & Mrigi in Nadia, Mathurapur in South 24 parganas are active hubs of Shola work in Bengal.
