Kolkata all set for three-day ‘Folk Safar’ from Friday – Times of India

KOLKATA: The rural artisans and folk musicians were the worst hit by the Covid pandemic in the last two years. Now, Bengal’s tourism department in association with Banglanatak dot com is holding a three-day ‘Folk Safar’ — a festival of folk music, art and craft — in the city from February 18-20 at Mohor Kunj opposite Academy of Fine Arts.
This will be followed by a mask festival in Purulia, pot festival in Pingla, terracotta festival in Bishnupur, and dokra festival in Bankura.

“Since we are very strongly promoting rural tourism and its eclectic arts and crafts, ‘Folk Safar’ will be an invitation by folk artists to their intimate world, so that people can experience a direct interaction with artists, visiting villages and first hand exposure to their lifestyle and seeing their performances in their own settings,” said a senior tourism department officer.
There will also be an exhibition on rural cultural tourism with details of directions on how to reach these places. The artists and craftsmen from Malda, Dinajpur, East and West Burdwan, Purulia, Bankura, East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Coochbehar will attend it, said Ranjan Sen of Banglanatak dot com.

Baul, Poter Gaan, Chou dance, Raibeshe naach, Bhawaia, Jhumur and folk theatre Bhanusundari Pala will be staged. More than 200 folk artists from 12 districts will perform. From 11am to 6pm, the master craftsmen will display their skills, create handicrafts and sell them. Items like shitalpati, panchmura terracotta, wooden toys, dokra and dhokra art will also be exhibited and sold.