Once again the excitement has returned to Nikli’s Palpara

Once again the excitement has returned to Nikli’s Palpara

Sitting in the backyard, Nitai Chandra Pal is painting on earthenware. His son Amit Chandra Pal, an eighth grader, is collaborating. After drying these products in the sun, burning them in the fire, dyeing and packing them, the image of the preparation to take them to the Baishakhi fair at the designated place is now in the house of the potters of Nikpara Palpara in Kishoreganj. Everyone is busy. Thursday is the holy Boishakh.

The potters seem to be trying to establish life in the clay. Dishes, glasses, mugs, jugs, salt bowls, sanki (dishes), cups, saucers and vegetable bowls – what they are not making. There are also elephants, horses, cows, deer, lions, tigers, bears, zebras, ducks, chickens. Small children’s play pots and pans and various types of stoves. New types of coil vases, candlesticks, vases, ghati-bati, mango, jackfruit, pineapple, papaya, kamaranga, ataphal, kalas, bangi and bahari colored earthen banks are being made. After two years, the potters believe that these products will attract buyers again.

Talked to some potters including Nitai Chandra Pal. They said the last two years were not the end of the tragedy because of Corona. This time they want to turn around. The work is almost finished, with only a few things left to paint. The potters said that they will finish it by Wednesday.

Last Monday, it was seen on the spot in Nikli’s Palpara that utensils were being made in its own way. Then they are being burned and dried in the fire. Then there is the scratching of polish and paint. From the beginning to the end of making these things of clay, every level requires the skillful touch of the artist. Some of the potters including Kritish Pal, Parul Rani Pal, Dilip Pal and Khokon Pal said that the demand for earthenware dishes has increased in the holy month of Boishakh. The custom of eating panta in Sanki has been introduced all over the country. They make a lot of dishes for him at this time of the year. He also makes flower tubs,

showpieces, toys, earthen banks, etc. for sale throughout the year. But there is no end to the problems. In this market of rising commodity prices, many people have become indebted by borrowing. In addition, these earthenware pots, jugs, As the use of vessels has decreased, so has the value of sails. At present, a handful of people are waiting for the fair, when will Boishakh come, when will the fair come.

32 families of Nikli’s Palpara were waiting for that. Most of these families make earthenware items and wait for the holy month of Boishakh every year. At the fair, they decorate the posara with toys, pots and pans, dolls, flower tubs and various utensils. This is how their life goes. Palera said that in an area where thousands of families were once involved in the profession, only a handful of families now hold on to the profession. Earlier, hundreds of families were involved in pottery work in this area. Now the number of families associated with this industry has come down to 32. Many have left their jobs, including industrial workers and various professionals. Holy Boishakh is their lifeblood. They want the cooperation of the government, or if it continues like this, maybe one day this profession will be lost.

Kishoreganj Social Services Office Assistant Director. Shahidullah told Prothom Alo that the government is providing long-term and short-term training to some potters under the Marginalized Living Standards Development Project of Bangladesh so that the potters can improve their living standards besides sustaining the industry. At the end of the training, they are given a financial grant. According to them, about 2,000 people from 560 pottery families in Kishoreganj district are still involved in this industry. Of this, about 300 potters of the district have been given financial grants from the social service office after the training. The rest will be brought under training in phases.

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