West Bengal artists steal the limelight in Cocofest-2007

Thiruvananthapuram, May 6 (UNI) Artists from West Bengal stole the limelight in the three-day 'Cocofest-2007', organised by the Coconut Development Board, with their art works on coconut shells.

The three stalls of artists from West Bengal in the exhibition, organised as part of the Cocofest, have been attracting a large number of art enthusiasts.

'Krishnaleela', depicting four incarnations of Lord Krishna on tender coconut and matured coconut shell was amazing. The four avatars of Lord Krishna, including 'Kaliyamardhanam', 'Geethopadesham to Arjuna by Krishna', 'Krishnaleela with Radha' have been marvelously carved out on the shells.

Tapas Pal, running a coconut shell arts unit with his wife Jayeeta Pal of Chanduli in West Bengal told UNI that he took three months to finish the work.

Mr Pal, who is in the field for the past 20 years said, besides works on coconut shell, beautiful sculptures in coconut and art works on saris were also being made by his unit, which has four workers, including one woman.

Chinmykar, a national awardee in coconut arts work, who came up with the works of 'tribal', 'trimurti' and Lord Buddha said this was a good experience as he was getting a large number of business enquirers about his products.

He said he was trained by his father. Now, his wife and daughter assists him in the business.

Lord Ganapath, made of 11 coconuts by 22-year-old Sanjay Kumar Gupta from Bihar was another attraction at the exhibition.

As many as 135 representatives, including farmers, industrialists and government organisations in the coconut sector from 14 states took part in the Cocofest and exhibition, which conclude today.

UNI