EAST INDIA- BIHAR, ODISHA, WEST BENGAL

Presented by Group 3:
Mansi Gupta
Mansi Awatramani
Bhoomika Mehta
Sakshi Gaur
Rituja Vats
Priyanka Singh
Topics of Discussion
• Introduction
• Time Period
• Wall Art
• Flooring
• Soft Furnishing
• Furniture Styles
• Doors and Windows
The East Indian Crafts speak of dexterity
and sense of artistry of the locals. The
East Indian states of India comprise of:
• Bihar
• West Bengal
• Odisha and
• Jharkhand
An essential part of East Indian crafts is
‘mask making’. The masks of Jharkhand
are very different from those of Bihar as
they are fiercer because the facial
expression is overstated. In Purulia district
of West Bengal, chou masks are made of
paper - mache which has an earthy
element in it.
• The paper - mache masks of Bihar have acquired a
modern dimension over the years. Originally the
masks were made of wood, bamboo and pumpkin
shells.
• Bihar is also well known for its Madhubani
paintings which have been a part of the state since
the time of Ramayana.
• In the earlier days, the paintings were created on
mud plastered walls. Now they are drawn on
handmade paper, canvas and different types of
clothes. The themes of Madhubani paintings
revolve around images of deities, birds, animals etc.
• In Bihar, carpets, lacquer ware and wood inlay are
popular.
• In Krishnagar of West Bengal state, ‘traditional
dolls’ are made from clay, which have been widely
acclaimed and are displayed in museums all over
the world.
• West Bengal is also famous for kantha embroidery
and weaving cotton sarees in handlooms, which are
called ‘tant sarees’.
• Another variety of silk sari, which is produced, is
the Baluchari sarees which mainly come in dark
shades like red, purple and chocolate.
• West Bengal is famous for terracotta craft where
the terracotta horses are exquisite piece of artistry.
Sholapith craft are another exclusive form of craft
in the state where the pith of shola, a herbaceous
plant is used to make decorative items.
• In Odisha, painted masks are created out
of wood, sholapith and other available raw
materials. The masks are painted in
soothing colours.
• Odisha is the hub of pure silver filigree
work
• Pipli craft is also very popular in Odisha
• Toy making is a craft in the region. In
Toupadana of Jharkhand state, ‘wooden
toys’ are made which are completely
abstract. The toys are always in pairs,
which are stunning and very original as
they are different from other dolls.
• Jharkhand, which has dense forests, have
mastered the craft of woodwork and
bamboo-work, which includes attractive
articles like door panels, boxes, windows,
wooden spoons etc.
 Time Period
The art tradition of east India
dates back to the Neolithic
and prehistoric times
(between 7,000 B.C to 1,000
B.C). There are many
structural relics that indicates
the gap between the
prehistoric times and later
periods. Some relics of art and
craft can of it be seen in
Ramayana.
Wall Decor
CONTEMPORARY MADHUBANI

These colourful paintings are made on

handmade paper and silk cloth. The art is
also replicated in modern day homes as
murals and on furniture. It is also popular in
sarees and other garments as a decorative
element. The natural colours however, are
sadly being replaced by easier-to-use acrylic
paints or gouache colours. But the art form
remains highly popular due to its rich and
colourful expressions. Today, Madhubani is
also popular in many other countries such
as Japan and Korea.
 BIHAR
CARPETS
Carpet weaving is the tradition of
Bihar since the Buddhist &
Mauryan era. At that time high
class floor coverings used to be
woven here. The pile carpet took
birth only about 300 years ago
and flourished because of royal
patronage offered to carpet
weaving.
ODISHA WEST BENGAL
JHOTI OR CHITA & MURUJA ALPANA FLOOR DRAWINGS
Muruja is drawn on the floor with These drawings are related to ancient
powders of different hues. White magic cults. These drawings are also
powder is obtained from the used for decorative purpose, in the
grinding of stones, green powder modern times. Alpana is a ritualistic
is obtained from dry leaves, black drawing made on the floor during a
from burnt coconut shells, yellow festive or religious occasion.
from the petals of marigold JUTE PRODUCTS- CARPETS
flowers or turmeric, and red from In ancient times Jute as a fabric was
red clay or bricks. much popular, used as carpet
flooring.
Soft Furnishings
BIHAR
SUJNI EMBROIDERY
It is the most popular form of
conventional art and craft prevailing in
Bihar.
It is a traditional quilt made in the rural
areas of that state.
Created with the simplest of stitches, with
readily available fabrics and at times with
well-worn pieces of clothes.
The craftswomen produce furnishings
such as bedspreads, wall hangings,
cushion and bloster covers, as well as
clothing items like saris, dupaattas, and
kurtas.
KASIDA WORK
The Kasida embroidery work is a very ancient form of
art. Kasida embroidery is done with gold and silver
metallic threads beads, silk, and sequins on satin or
velvet having the motifs of birds, leaf and many other.
Kasida embroidery with geometrical patterns is very
famous in Bihar.
ZARI WORKS
Artistic embroidery and Zari works is very famous in
Bihar and is also a livelihood business for many
families. Some of the finest Zari works can be found
in shamiyanas, kanath, chandwas, pillow-covers,
batwas, covers for musical instruments, tablecloth,
window curtains, blouse pieces, sari, borders, etc.
Patna is very famous for Zari and embroidery works.
Soft Furnishings
ODISHA WEST BENGAL
APPLIQUE WORK
KANTHA EMBROIDERY
In the village of Pipli, there prevails a traditional
Kantha is a very beautiful form of
art form - Applique Work. It is a complex form of
embroidery that originated in West
art where one material is sewed to the other in
Bengal. It is basically the art of outlining
order to make an enthralling decorative
decorative images with running stitch, on
pattern.Colored cloth, are stitched in the shape of
clothes, with colorful threads. It is used
animals, birds, flowers and beautiful wall, garden
on saris, dhotis, kurtas, ethnic-wear for
or beach umbrella, a lampshade and many more
men and women, bed-linen, cushion
hangings are made.
covers, quilts and other such items. A
HAND WOVEN TEXTILES craze amongst foreign tourists, Kantha
Odisha is famous for producing hand-woven stitch is best used on cotton and silk.
textiles produced by skilful handloom weavers.
Being a worldly-famous handicraft, textiles in
Odisha produces clothes like Saree, Dhoti, and
dress materials, bedsheets, furniture coverings etc.
Sujni embroidery Zari embroidery Kantha embroidery

Kasida embroidery Applique work Kantha embroidery

Furniture Styles
Doors and Windows

The windows are usually wooden frames with iron jaalis.

The wall surrounding the frame is decorated by madhubani
art depicting stories of the ancient times.