News Flash
DHAKA, Sept 20, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has launched the first-ever Jamdani Exposition at the National Crafts Museum in the Indian capital, offering audiences a rare glimpse into Bangladesh's most celebrated textile tradition.
The five-day exposition, inaugurated on Friday, will remain open to visitors until September 23, according to message received here today.
Curated by Indian craft and textile revivalist Chandrashekhar Bheda, the showcase brings together exquisite Jamdanis woven by Bangladesh's master artisans, including two rare 150-year-old pieces.
At the opening, Bheda underlined Jamdani's uniqueness: "Jamdani cannot be replicated by machine. Its sheer transparency and delicacy are like weaving magic that floats in the air."
Adding conceptual depth, Chandrashekhar Saha, a leading figure in Bangladesh's craft revival and former design head at Aarong, highlighted the fabric's heritage: "Once, Bengal's Muslin reigned supreme. Jamdani stands on that same pedestal - an art you must see and feel to understand. Let us hope its legacy endures."
The ceremony also featured voices from India's design and cultural fraternity. Padma Shri award-winning designer Sunita Kohli described Jamdani as "woven air,".
"Emperors coveted it, traders carried it across seas, and poets struggled to capture its fineness. UNESCO calls it intangible cultural heritage - I call it intangible luxury, measured not by price, but by patience, time, and the human hand," she said.
Celebrated filmmaker and designer Muzaffar Ali called Jamdani "a true delight of light and texture, a beauty that can unite nations through a shared appreciation of craft."
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India M. Riaz Hamidullah, who conceptualized the exposition, said the initiative was inspired by the overwhelming response to Jamdanis displayed during Bangladesh's Independence Day celebrations earlier this year.
"Through this exhibition, we hope more people discover the timeless beauty of Jamdani," he remarked.
Two national award-winning Jamdani weavers, Mohammad Jamal Hossain and Mohammad Sajeeb, are demonstrating live the intricate weaving process throughout the event, offering visitors firsthand insight into the artistry.
The inauguration drew an eclectic gathering of diplomats, artists, filmmakers, and textile connoisseurs from India and beyond, marking the exposition as a cultural bridge and celebration of shared heritage.
