Bengal crafts to be displayed at French folk fest

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the Rural Craft Hub -- an initiative by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) department -- has been selected by the UNESCO for the 'Cultures of the World' Festival in France.

"Our efforts to spread rural crafts of Bengal across boundaries continue to get yet another international acclaim. Rural Craft Hub of Bengal has received the rare honour of being selected by UNESCO headquarters to showcase their artistes in Paris on July 28, 2015," Mamata said on her Facebook page.

"One each artisan of the hub -- Patachitra from Pingla, Sitalpati from Coochbehar, Wooden Mask from Kushmundi, Teracota from Panchmura, Dokra from Bikna -- along with baul and chau team will be visiting France to represent India at the prestigious Festival de Gannat 'Les Cultures du Monde' during July 7 to 26, 2015.

"A special event has been planned at Paris Plage and at UNESCO Headquarters on July 28."

The Festival de Gannat 'Les Cultures du Monde' is an event dedicated to the internationally-renowned folk worldwide.

It takes place every year in July.

The UNESCO in 2013 had signed a MoU and Funds-in-Trust Agreement worth Rs.95 million with the MSME department towards the development of ten Rural Craft Hubs in the state.

The hubs are aimed at nurturing traditional handicraft skills and boost rural employment and livelihood improvement.