Nakshi kantha, a type of embroidered quilt, is a centuries-old Bengali art tradition of the Bengal region. The word kantha originated from the Sanskrit word kontha, which means rags. Early kantha had a white background accented with red, blue and black embroidery; later yellow, green, pink and other colours were also included.
About Nakshi kantha in brief
Nakshi kantha, a type of embroidered quilt, is a centuries-old Bengali art tradition of the Bengal region. Nakshi kanthas are made throughout Bangladesh, but the greater Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Bogra, Rajshahi, Faridpur and Jessore areas are most famous for this craft. Early kantha had a white background accented with red, blue and black embroidery; later yellow, green, pink and other colours were also included. The word kantha originated from the Sanskrit word kontha, which means rags, as kantha is made of rags. Traditionally, kantha was produced for the use of the family. Today, after the revival of the nakshiKantha, they are produced commercially. Modern Kantha-stitch craft industry involves a very complex multi-staged production model. The following is how kantha are categorized, according to the stitch type: The running stitch kantha. The patchwork kantha and the decorative appliqué type evolved from this. The variations are likainj, jhumka, likohori, lohori and likohari. This type of kantha is particularly popular in the Chapawganj and Jessores areas of Bangladesh.
This was introduced by the Rajasthan government in the 19th century. The name was derived from Sanskrit, as ‘Shivananda’ or ‘Lahari’ – poetic works in Sanskrit by Adi Shankara. It is also found in Persian Language giving the same meaning, which is ‘lehrhr’ – meaning ‘wave’ in English during English usage. This is the most popular kantha type in Bangladesh, particularly in Chapawainj and lahori areas of the country. The first kantha to be made was in the 18th century, and was called ‘Anarasi’ or Anarasi. It was made by the Lohori Rajasthani family, who used wooden blocks to print the outline of the designs. The blocks are replaced today by patterns drawn in tracing papers. In some cases, wooden blocks were used to print the outline, but they are now replaced by patterns in tracing paper. The kantha making is influenced by factors such as materials available, daily needs, climate, geography, and economic factors.
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This page is based on the article Nakshi kantha published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 06, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
