Traditional hand fans and the struggle of working people

These pictures reveal an ever-present aspect of rural Bengal's tradition. When the villagers get bored in the intense heat, the traditional hand fans made of palm leaves and bamboo bring a moment of relief. Even though modern fans or ACs are easily available in the era of mechanical civilization, the appeal of this palm fan is still intact in our rural culture.

The pictures show a hardworking man arranging the palm fans he has made or collected with utmost care and precision. These fans are made by cutting palm leaves into a beautiful round shape, making strong ties around them with thread or bamboo skewers, and attaching handles. Behind this entire process lies immense patience and devoted love. Wearing a blue shirt and lungi, with a towel tied around his head, this working man seems to be a unique craftsman of our folk art.

He is carefully arranging the fans and preparing them for sale. The white paper-wrapped handles of each fan look very beautiful and neat. His eyes reveal a deep attention and at the same time an honest and relentless effort to earn a living. Ignoring the sun, rain or thousands of hardships, these ordinary people have kept our thousand-year-old cottage industry alive with their sweaty work.

They go around the village markets or fairs and sell these fans. This hand fan not only removes the fatigue and heat of the people, but behind it lies the story of the livelihood of an artisan's family, their dreams and struggle to earn a living. In rural life without electricity or in the tiring hours of midday, a palm fan is like a best friend.

Seeing such a simple but deep sense of life, it fills the heart. We should respect this eternal tradition and art of rural Bengal and properly evaluate the labor and creativity of these hardworking artists. These beautiful memories of folk art always bring us back closer to our own culture.