Wearing the shades of Baishakhi

T-shirts capture various traditional patterns

An 11/3 inches long piece of Gamchha, appliqued on a off-white T-shirt titled Hajar Bochhor Dhorey (For thousands of years) designed by Bahar Rahman with a brief description of Gamchha, is not only magnificent but also has a traditional festive look. As Bahar says, "It's just an innovation to popularise the charm of Gamchha amongst the younger generation."

Like Gamchha another folk tradition Haat Pakha--hand fans made of clothes, cane, bamboo and palm leaves, where rural women have inscribed some messages with needles and colourful threads for their beloved, is on the verge of extinction in this era of electric fans. But Saleh Mahmud uses this beautiful motif on his T-shirt Haat Pakha and tries to remind us of our rich tradition.

The T-shirt titled Dhakai Muslin evokes the lost heritage of our golden fabric that once conquered the world with its finest texture. There is a rare sketch of a weaver making muslin, by distinguished artist and sensitive observer of architecture Sir Charles D'Oyly (1781-1885) who worked as a Collector of Dhaka (1808-1811) in the Indian Civil Service. However, this rare artwork has been taken from the book The antiquities of Dacca, written by Sir D'Oyly. This work is embossed on a white and light chocolate background and is a documentation of our glorious past.

Banglar Mukh Ami Dekhiachi-- this timeless line of Jibonando Das -- is captured in a lyrical picture of a river, boat and lavish greenery of the countryside. On a black background with a golden hue, is another T-shirt designed by Dhruba Esh.

Karushilpa by Saleh Mahmud and a series of Lokoj by Anisuzzaman Sohel with colourful folk-craft motifs and alpanas and Shabyasachi Hajra's Utshab capturing the glimpses of the world's festivals add splashes of colours to this festival.

Nitya Upahar's Baishakhi exhibition contains a total of 15 designs among which six are new. Apart from these, there are two T-shirts for children: Aamar Shonar Bangla and Khara Duto Shing. The exhibition will run till April 30.