India’s Centuries-Outdated Eco-Pleasant Different to Thermocol
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 various to thermocol.
Whereas most of us are aware of thermocol, a fabric used to make ornamental items and headgear, few learn about its eco-friendly various – 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 underneath the solar.
The brown outer layer fashioned across the stalks is eliminated and the remaining materials is sliced after which rolled. This may be transformed into any type to swimsuit the artist’s creativity.
A vast group of artisans from West Bengal are concerned within the making of gorgeous handicrafts utilizing sholapith. The artisans who’ve been concerned on this custom for generations are known as malakars.
Sholapith is taken into account to be a sacred materials and is extensively utilized in auspicious events and conventional rituals. There are lots of native folklores that join this naturally occurring white materials to the divine.
This light-weight materials is therefore used to create the normal wedding ceremony headgear of a Bengali bride and groom in West Bengal. Additionally it is used to embellish 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 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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