Azibor Rahman

The malakar (garlanders) community is spending busy days making decorative flowers crafted with shola (Indian jointvetch) ahead of Laxmi and Durga Puja.

They are expecting a good yield on the occasion of the festivities, especially Laxmi puja in which the decorative flowers play an integral part.

While visiting Bhatpara village under Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah, this correspndent found that the artisans were busy making shola-crafted flowers for the upcoming puja festivals.

Hundreds of decorative flowers are sold ahead of the religious festivals, the community people said.

This work starts in August and ends at the last week of October. In this time, they earn a good amount and buy new dress by doing a brisk business. It costs a little to make shola-made flowers and they make a hefty profit.

They collect the plant from nearby marsh lands and waterbodies. They dry it in the sun and cut it in different shapes. Later, they craft decorative items and sell them in the market. Its demand is very high in the market because each Hindu family must buy it for Laxmi puja.

Santosh Kumar malakar, 65, said he has been in this profession for the last 40 years.

“We make cap, hand fan, birds, peacock and crocodile with shola and sell those in the fair. Its main ingredient is shola and it needs gum, paper, colour and thread. It costs Tk three only to make and we sell it at Tk 20 to Tk 25,” he added.

He is expecting to sell earn Tk 15,000 this year.

A female student Bristi Malakar of Kaliganj Womens’ College said that she earns a good amount per month by making flowers in the gap of her studies and on holidays. She can buy study materials and her dress with the income.

Sundarpur-Durgapur union Chairman Ilias Rahman Mitu said that malakar community people under this union make different items of shola and maintain their families. He assured of providing the community people all sorts of assistance.

Photo: Star

Malakar community people in Malipara area under Kaliganj upazila of Jhenidah spends busy time making shola crafts and decorative plants, an ingredient of Hindu festival Laxmi puja. Right, a bunch of decorative flowers.