Shola craft is very popular in India and most decorative traditional craft. Shola comes from delicate, and spongy plants. Shola is white in color and lightweight, porous. Word ‘Shola’ is apparently formed from the Tamil language word cÕlai (சோலை) meaning grove.
Artisan Pranab Mahara and Ujjal Mahara has been working on shola craft for the last twenty years. Pranab Mahara is the son of Ujjal Mahara. Darpashila village is located in Birbhum district, West Bengal. They are making different types of murti (kali, Durga, Ganesha, Flower, Bojra, boat, and decorative flower vases.
Ujjal Mahara teaches this craft to many people. He is making a living from this craft. Only this family in the whole village works this craft. 10 years ago they used to collect shola from the forest and now buy from the market. The artist works art at home with the family. They are using different tools for cutting shola. Scissors, cutter, glass cutter, zig-zag scissors are mostly needed for shola work. Glass cutter using for cutting glass pieces. They sell all goods at home and abroad.
Elemental Resources & Mass Production