264. Santiniketan Leather Goods

Santiniketan Leather Goods refers to exquisite colourful handcrafted leather products symbolising the cultural and social values of West Bengal. It includes block printed products and also batik dyed products having smooth and glazing surface. 

The wide variety of these leather goods is famous due to its applicability of batik, appliqué, stencil, modelling, poker, embossed relief work etc. The ornamental / artistic decoration by painting is handcrafted by touch dyeing or batik dyeing. The decoration of the products conforms to Santiniketani tradition.

Image credit: indiamart.com

Santinikatani style refer to the artistic style initiated by Rabindranath Tagore in 1932 as rural construction and developed as an integral part of Rabindranath Tagore’s Sriniketan experiment of Rural Reconstruction development programme of Visva Bharati University. 

The basic trainings were imparted by the Silpa Sadan to the rural folks in and around Santinikatan. That skill transcended from generation of these rural families. The edge corner of the products will be smooth and aesthetic. The accessories and fittings of the product are durable and good looking.

The products are made from vegetable tanned skin. Vegetable tanned leathers have a unique property of retaining embossed imprint permanently and turn its grain surface glossy if rubbed with smooth surface like glass or cotton pad etc. This type of leather can be dyed easily with natural dyes. 

Unlike other manufacturers, Santiniketan Leather is made from selective animal skins of Sheep and Goat. They are shining, glossy and smooth dyed coloured products. There is no particular size of any type of Santiniketan Leather Goods products. 

It has got unique property of retaining its embossed imprint permanently and turning its grain surface glossy if rubbed with glass / cotton. The products are given traditional Motif & Colours which make it unique. The products are colourful with embossed design or batik designs.

The products include a wide variety of items like wallet, pouch, handbag, coin purse, ornament box, pencil box, spectacle cover, shopping bag, ladies side bag, piggy bank, cushion cover, chapel and sandal upper / footwear and many more.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 09 September 2008

GI Tag Number                         : 104

Certificate Number                  : 90

Geographical Area                  : West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 07 April 2022

Cancellation                             : Santiniketan 731 238

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/06/2022

A Sample of Santiniketan Leather Goods Product is pasted on the cover

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254. Darjeeling Tea

Darjeeling tea is a tea made from Camellia sinensis var. sinensis that is grown and processed in Darjeeling district or Kalimpong district in West Bengal, India. Darjeeling Tea has the distinctive and naturally occurring organaoleptic characteristics of taste, aroma and mouth feel which have won the patronage and recognition of discerning consumers all over the world.

Tea plants were first planted in the Darjeeling region in the mid-1800s. At the time, the British were seeking an alternative supply of tea apart from China and attempted growing the plant in several candidate areas in India. Both the newly discovered assamica variety and the sinensis variety were planted, but the sloped drainage, cool winters, and cloud cover favoured var. sinensis. 

The incomparable quality of Darjeeling Teas is the result of its locational climate, soil conditions, altitude and meticulous processing. The tea leaves are processed as black tea, though some estates have expanded their product offerings to include leaves suitable for making green, white, and oolong teas.

Image credit: theteashelf.com

The tea leaves are harvested by plucking the plant's top two leaves and the bud, from March to November, a time span that is divided into four flushes. The first flush consists of the first few leaves grown after the plant's winter dormancy and produce a light floral tea with a slight astringency; this flush is also suitable for producing a white tea. 

Second flush leaves are harvested after the plant has been attacked by a leafhopper and the camellia tortrix so that the leaves create a tea with a distinctive muscatel aroma. The warm and wet weather of monsoon flush rapidly produces leaves that are less flavourful and are often used for blending. The autumn flush produces teas similar to, but more muted than, the second flush.

Darjeeling tea leaves are processed in the traditional “Orthodox” way. The inherently sensitive nature of finely plucked, green leaf responds best to gentle treatment. Although differing leaf varieties require intricate variations in processing, these stages undergone are uniform.

Once the leaf reaches the factory it is withered. The objective is to evaporate moisture from the leaf slowly. The leaf becomes limp so as to withstand twisting and rolling under pressure without crumbling. Liquor characteristics also begin to develop following physical and chemical changes within the leaf structure.

The experienced tea maker judges the extent of quality development from the fragrance progressively expressed by the leaf at regular intervals. This sensory judgement is critical to the quality of the infused liquor.  

Once optimum fermentation has been achieved, the rolled leaf is taken for firing (or drying) to arrest further fermentation by deactivating the enzymes, and to remove fermented leaf. After final grading has been completed nomenclature are assigned according to the size of the grade. 

These fall into three categories:

• Whole Leaf FTGOP – Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe

• Brokens TGBOP – Tippy Golden Broken Orange Pekoe 

• Fannings GOF – Golden Orange Fannings

The above gradations related only to the size of the leaf and not to quality differentiations. All grades are the product of the same green leaf. The smaller Broken and Fannings are generally used in tea bags. Recently new technology has resulted in tetrahydral tea bags which accept large grades as well.

The Darjeeling tea when brewed gives a colour of pale lemon to rich amber. The brew is said to have remarkable varying degrees of visual brightness, depth and body. The flavour emanating from the brew is a fragrance with a complex and pleasing taste and aftertaste with attributes of aroma, bouquet and point. The organoleptic characteristics of the Darjeeling tea brew are commonly referred to as mellow, smooth, round, delicate, mature, sweet, lively, dry and brisk.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 29 October 2004

GI Tag Number                         : 1 & 2

Certificate Number                  : 1

Geographical Area                  : West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 08 March 2022

Cancellation                             : Kolkata 700 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/04/2022

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243. Dalle Khursani

Dalle Khursani is the local name for Red Cherry Pepper (Capsicum annum var cerasiforme), cultivated in the mid hills of Sikkim State and Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is well known for its unique flavour and high pungency. 

It is perennial crop characterized by small to medium sized pods. There is much diversity in Red Cherry Pepper pod viz. dropping pod, erect pod, yellow pod, round pod etc. The crop can be grown round the year under protected condition. Dalle khursani is almost round cherry size and bright red when fully ripen.

Image credit: darjeelingconnection.com

The high flavour is the unique characteristic of this chilli. Besides capsaicin which produces pungency, it contains carotenoids and phenolic compounds and is being used as natural pigment and anti - oxidant agents. It is used in a multitudes of food preparations and marketed in different regions. Fruits are also used making pickle, paste, powder and dry chilli. This chilli has also many medicinal properties.

Dalle khursani are high in vitamin A, vitamin E, and potassium, and low in sodium. Vitamin C is sensitive to heat and drying but vitamin A is very stable, and paprika and dried chilli both contain relatively high amounts of this important nutrient. 

Dalle khursani are well-known for their health benefits. Herbalists have long promoted peppers for their health enhancing effects. These include clearing the lungs and sinuses, protecting the stomach by increasing the flow of digestive juices, triggering the brain to release endorphins (natural painkillers), making the mouth water, which helps to neutralize cavity-causing acids, and helping protect the body against cancer through antioxidant activity

Very addictive, this chilli is a favourite side-dish with the usual 'daal-bhaat' in the Nepal-Sikkim belt. Commonly used for chutneys and sauces along with momos, it is regularly consumed in winters as it keeps the body warm. Giving the sweet-tingly taste, Dalle has now become a very widely used chilli in the North Eastern regions of India due to its addictive taste. It is also eaten with rice alone in many villages of Sikkim to cancel out the intense heat.

There are many homemade recipes using Dalle khursani like Chicken chilli, Dalle achaar etc. But the most infamous one of them is the fermented Dalle along with yak-buttermilk (also known as soft Churpi). The most commonly used form of it is the fermented pickle. From pickles to pizzas inhabitants keep experimenting with food using it. The popular red chutney accompanying Momos most popularly uses this chilli.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 14 September 2021

GI Tag Number                         : 636

Certificate Number                  : 414

Geographical Area                  : Sikkim, West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 31 December 2021

Cancellation                             : Siliguri 734 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/36/2021

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242. Wooden Mask of Kushmandi

Wooden Mask of Kushmandi also known as Gomira Dance Mask is a ritualistic non-Vocal dance form Mask worn by the local communities during the performance, to usher in Good forces and drive out Evil forces from the Villages.

Kushmandi of Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal is home to crafts persons who are involved in making wooden masks locally called as Mukha. Bold demonic look is the characteristic feature of the masks. The wood crafted Gomira masks represent the characters of the two distinct forms of dance – the Gomira and the Ram-Vanwas.

Image credit: thigma.art

The wooden mask of Kushmandi is mainly of two types, one that is used in house hold for the decoration purposes and the one that is used in the traditional Gomira dance. The two types of masks are made by the same process and materials, with some difference between them.

If the mask is to be used for the purpose of dancing, only then the eyes, mouth, etc are hollowed out. The masks that are crafted for the decoration purposes are also bulkier and heavier than the mask used in Gomira dance.

The word Gomira is a colloquial form of the root word Gram-Chandi, a female deity. The exact origins of this craft and the dance are not exactly traceable. It is supposed to arise from Buddhist and pre-Aryan sources. It is usually organized within the Bengali months of Baisakh - Jyestha Asarh, corresponding to mid-April to mid-July of English calendar.

The craft of mask making is intrinsically connected with the rituals practiced in Dakshin Dinajpur. Each character has a name and a story with mythological connect. The masks are worn during performance as part of ritual activity. This is the aspect which makes it unique.

The mask is made from a single log of wood. There is no joining of multiple logs or wood block. Initially the masks were made from pure woods such as wood from Neem tree, as per Hindu mythology. Mostly the artists use wood from gamar tree (Gmelina arborea). Locally available and cheaper wood such as mango, pakur, kadam, gamhar and teak are also used.

Wood pieces are kept submerged in large reservoirs containing water for seasoning and then the pieces are taken out after a week and sun-dried. The basic form emerges first with the use of the adze, followed by emphasis on facial features.

Although the masks used for dance are brightly painted, decorative masks are made without paint. In some cases a black hue is used which comes from the fruits of the tree called ‘Basatbot’. Gomira masks were painted with natural dyes. Red dye was made from segun (Teak), green from seem (a form of bean), violet from jamun (Syzygium cumini) and black from Jia tree (Lannea coromandelica).

The mask gets a coat or two of natural varnish, which provides smoothness to the mask and ensures durability. Terpenes are mostly used for this purpose which is collected from the locally available Pine tree.

It easily hangs on the wall using a single nail or screw via the attached hanger on the back. A wonderful and colourful addition to any room, and a great housewarming gift for both friends and family. Recently the artists are making diversified products in the form of small fridge magnets, lamp shades etc.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 28 March 2018

GI Tag Number                         : 566

Certificate Number                  : 319

Geographical Area                  : West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 31 December 2021

Cancellation                             : Siliguri 734 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/33/2021

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229. Madurkathi

Madurkathi are mats woven from a locally available soft reed called ‘Madur kottir’ in Bengali vernacular.  Madur is the Bengali vernacular for floor mats. Mats are an integral part of Bengal’s lifestyle. Generally, women of the households are involved in weaving this beautiful craft. 

Madur kottir is locally available soft reed (Cyperus tegetum or Cyperus pangorei) found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of East and West Medinipur districts of West Bengal. The Madur kottir / Madur Kathi grass required for making Madur is largely available in Sabang area of Paschim Medinipur.

The design is influenced by local culture. The popular designs are of flower, mouchak (honey comb), barfi (rhomboidal) and Jharna (cascading). There are basically two types of products: traditional floor mats and diversified products like table mats, curtains, bags etc. 

Image credit: authindia.com

The artisans make three types of floor mats- Ak rokha, dui rokha and Masland. Ak rokha is a thin and light mat whereas Dui rokha has double Madurkathi weft and hence thicker and heavier than Ak rokha and more comfortable to sit and lie. The third one is Masland which is a textured mat with the decorated aesthetic appearance. Masland is the finest and most expensive mat among the three types of mat.

Madurs are dyed with vegetable dyes only.  The vegetable dye preparation comes from natural sources. Black dye is produced using Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) fruit, fruit and barks of Babla tree  (Acacia nilotica). Reddish dye is formed from a local tree name Rang gaach (Peristrophe tinctoria). 

Records of the Medieval Period provide the first information about mat weaving in the region of Bengal- when both ordinary mats and the fine variety were produced. The origin of the craft in west Bengal dates back to the Muslim period when ‘ Masland ’ mats of superfine variety with fine cotton as weft were produced under royal patronage.

The processing of Madur Kathi and the skill full weaving of Madur mat is a delicate piece of work. The placing of reeds one by one very efficiently, the making of designs and other required traditional skills are acquired from the ancestors of the artist of Mahishya community in the area of Medinipur. 

The weaving of Masland mats requires at least two persons. One person place the reeds from left to right by placing one thread on top and another one down the other person does the same thing from right to left at meeting the finishing lines the threads are turned and the process is continued.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 28 March 2018

GI Tag Number                         : 567

Certificate Number                  : 320

Geographical Area                  : West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 30 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Bankura 722 101

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/32/2021

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228. Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft

Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft is a popular craftwork from Bankura District West Bengal, in which locally available clay of brownish red colour is partially dried and cast, moulded, or hand worked into different idols, figurines, decorative items. They are crafted into desired shape and designs used as ornamental building material and in modelling. The products are excellent in workmanship, profoundly detailed and elaborately decorated.

Image credit: wbkvib.org.in

Over the time, however, clay craft has grown more advanced with the use of new designs keeping in mind the utilitarian factor. The artifacts made are mainly:

Ritual Items The ritual items include varieties of images of different deities. Their images are Manasachali or Jhar (goddess Manasa decorated with her snakes), Manasa-R Bari or Ghat, KalirGhat (pot for goddess Kali), pinched horse, elephant and other toys, Malsa (vessel) for ritual purpose, Tati (earthen cup), Ghat (earthen pot), Sara (earthen lid) Pradip (lamp) of various types, Dhupdani (incense stand), Sankha (shell) etc.

Household Utility Items They prepare pitcher, various types of vessels such as Hadi / Hari (rice pot), Guji (pot to collect date palm juice), Khabri for frying of rice, Karai (frying pan), Malsa (vessel), Glass, Plates etc.

Decorative and Artistic Items Terracotta horses and elephants in Bankura have been the creation of potters. Over the centuries they have moved away from a realistic presentation to a representational presentation. Potter-artists of different regions focused on different parts of the animal body in such a manner that representation of the same became more important than representation of the entire body of the animal.

Terracotta Ornaments, one of the oldest forms of jewellery which includes several items like earrings, ear studs, necklaces, pendants, bangles and bracelets. The designs are mostly inspired by nature and depicted animals, leaves, flowers and then moved on to traditional motifs and elaborate patterns.

The source of their raw material is the rich, alluvial clay found in Bengal’s rivers. Bankura artisans do not compromise on the quality of mati or clay. They use the finest quality of clay available on the banks of the Ganges, commonly known as Ganga mati (clay from the Ganges) or from its tributary river. It is quite interesting that the artists even take care of the age of the mati. The older the alluvial clay, the better the quality.

The terracotta horse is characterized by its typical shape. In particular, it has a long rounded neck with erect ear and tail. It also has its legs rounded and tapered. The specialty of the Bankura Terracotta Craft is the proper proportion of the figure and motifs used on product. One more important feature of this art is that they use only natural colours.

The conception of design and plotting it on the products require great skill and experience. The correct choice of design and intricacy of the work are given by the master craftsman based upon the consumers /market requirement.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 28 March 2018

GI Tag Number                         : 453

Certificate Number                  : 306

Geographical Area                  : West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 29 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Bankura 722 101

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/29/2021

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India Post has also issued a commemorative stamp related to Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft, details of the same is furnished below

Bankura Horse
Commemorative Postage Stamp
Date of Issue : 14-Nov-1957

227. Bengal Patachitra

Bengal Patachitra is painting done on paper or fabric, and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction. Patachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms. 

The name Patachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words patta, meaning canvas, and chitra, meaning picture. The traditions of Patachitra paintings are more than thousand years old. Bengal Patachitra is practiced mainly in village Naya of district Paschim Medinipur under the block of Pingla.

The Patachitra was painted both for religious and entertainment purposes. Patachitras are painted narrative scrolls executed by a class of itinerant singing scroll painters variously known as Patuas, Chitrakars, Patikars or Patidars. These paintings are characterised by religious, social motifs and images painted on cloth. Their art appealed to everyone and could be understood by even a child.

Image credit: indicinscriptions.com

Handmade paper, coarse cotton fabric or tussar silk were traditionally used as canvas for Patachitra paintings. The paper scrolls generally have a stick on both ends used for unrolling. Apart from paper and cloth, sometimes palm- leaf manuscripts were made to paint the scrolls.

Five basic pigments – White (Sankha), Yellow (Hingula), Black (Kala), Brown (Khayeri), Indigo (Neela) and their combinations are used for colouring. The materials used in the paint are from vegetable, earth, and mineral sources. The subject matter of the patachitras includes religious, mythological, and folk themes. Krishna leela and Lord Jagannath are important motifs.

The size of a ‘Pata’ generally varies from one to one and half feet in width and three to twenty five feet in length. The ‘Pata’ are generally of two types. The ‘Jarano’ or ‘Gutano’ pata are scrolls depicting a story serially in picture frames. The ‘chauka pata’ is smaller in size and square in dimension. The chauka canvas is used for painting one particular deity or a mythical or  social subject.

There are various lengths and durations of pata: those with 10 to 15 rectangular panels are known as latai pata, those of 6 to 8 oblong panels are the Arelatai pata and there are also smaller square chaukhosh pata.

Some of the few features of Bengal Patachitra are big eyes of the characteris, no eyelashes, no nails and mouths are closes. Use of borders on all four sides between the divisions of panel. The figures of the Patachitra looks like the classical Egyptian or Messopotemian style. Most figures depicted with frontal chest, profile head and limbs. No strict human proportions are there that means the size of the figure and limbs varies in respect of the space available for the Patachitra.

Artists uses different colour in respect of the characters and suitable rendition of the themes so that it can be catchy and easily understandable to all kinds of peoples. Except borders organic shapes are painted in Patachitra. The paintings are two dimensional without shadings.

There are two types of Pata- religious and secular. Religious pata encompass the story of Hindu epics like, Purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata narrating stories of Hindu gods and goddesses like, Krishna, Chaitanya, Kali, Shiva and the indigenous Bengali folklore of Manasha and Chandi, Behula and Lakshinder being the most popular. 

Secular pata depicts important news events, scandals accidents etc such as rural elections, the rationing system, family planning, evils of the dowry system etc. Every Patachitra has a song related to it, which the artists sing while unfurling the Patachitra

GI Tag Registration Date         : 28 March 2018

GI Tag Number                         : 564

Certificate Number                  : 317

Geographical Area                  : West Bengal

Special Cover Release Date   : 29 November 2021

Cancellation                             : Bankura 722 101

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Cover Identification Number  : WB/31/2021

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