White, light-weight, and sustainable, Indian cork or sholapith is a pure uncooked materials obtainable in West Bengal and Odisha. Right here’s how it’s used as a sustainable different to thermocol.
Whereas most of us are acquainted with thermocol, a cloth used to make ornamental items and headgear, few learn about its eco-friendly different – the Indian cork or sholapith.
Sholapith is a plant extensively seen within the Sunderbans delta throughout the monsoon. Cultivators from West Bengal go knee-deep into the water, pluck the plant, clear the stalks and dry them beneath the solar.
The brown outer layer shaped across the stalks is eliminated and the remaining materials is sliced after which rolled. This may be transformed into any type to go well with the artist’s creativity.
A vast group of artisans from West Bengal are concerned within the making of lovely handicrafts utilizing sholapith. The artisans who’ve been concerned on this custom for generations are referred to as malakars.
Sholapith is taken into account to be a sacred materials and is extensively utilized in auspicious events and conventional rituals. There are a lot of native folklores that join this naturally occurring white materials to the divine.
This light-weight materials is therefore used to create the standard wedding ceremony headgear of a Bengali bride and groom in West Bengal. Additionally it is used to brighten the idols of Puri Jagannath in Orissa and to adorn the goddess throughout Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal.
The fabric majorly created within the districts of Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, Malda, and Hooghly can also be exported to a number of international locations.
Whereas thermocol nonetheless stays a preferred merchandise, it’s non-biodegradable. Whereas sholapith, a sustainable uncooked materials, isn’t used even within the locations the place it’s abundantly grown. And since this low-cost materials earns them little or no, most artisans are switching jobs.
Watch this video to know extra about this white porous materials:
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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