Nakshi works are hand made quilts, bedspreads, wall hangings,coushion covers,bags,sarees , other women wearings and pillow covers made by artists in rural Bangladesh. Nakshi design is a folk and traditional art that has been passed down through generations of Bangladeshi families. Not only nakshi design but also other crafts like wooden , cane, bamboo clay pottery crafts are samely flurished in a traditional way. A group of rural women who does nakshi design specially on kantha in their leisure time which related with their inner feelings and emotion which reflects on their works. It is not onlysimply a handi work but also a piece of art which tells the story of those women and their daily leaves .Scholars believe the word kantha originated from the word ketha, which describes quilts made from old saris (traditional Bangladeshi dresses) and dhotis (traditional Bangladeshi skirts). Eventually, artists began to add nakshi (hand stitched designs ) to the ketha as a form of both individual and cultural expression. Nakshi Kantha quilts are lightweight to compliment the tropical climate of Bangladesh.
The hand stitched designs of Nakshi Kantha and other crafts originated in the traditional art of Alpanas, ritualistic floor drawings made for worship and celebration. These motifs blend symbols derived from past and present Bangladeshi religions and scenes from everyday life, such as fishing boats, rivers, flowers, trees, and people. Some Nakshi design artists tell a personal story through their unique imagery.
Artisans of all social classes originally practiced Nakshi design and other hand made products, but today primarily women of low-income families practice the art form. Producing and selling hand made works allows women to contribute to their household income while working at home where they can care for their children. Artists typically work in groups to create handi works; often family members collaborate on larger pieces. Practicing Nakshi and othe handi crafts , therefore, serves as a family event through which artists proudly express their culture in a beautiful and functional form.
