Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Panchmura village - about 150 kms from Kolkata, is the home of traditional terracotta artists of Bengal. The annual terracotta fair will be held here on 4-6 November, 2016. Shoppers who delight in ethnic art-ware can choose from a range of traditional toys, small household artefacts, decorative items and jewellery, all made of terracotta.             The long-necked horse seen everywhere is the typical toy manufactured here by the clay artists. During this festival, the houses of artisans would be decorated by various terracotta products, from where anyone can buy. There will be no stall of these handmade products in the fair.               Panchmura village of Bankura district, near Bishnupur, is the home of about 300 artists making terracotta items. Terracotta means baked clay. The crafts persons colour their products with clay itself and fire them in kilns with the help of dry eucalyptus leaves. Various anim...