Terracotta Bankura Horse Souvenir from Bengal
Traditional Bankura horse made of terracotta is a must buy souvenir if you are fond of traditional Indian rural art and handicraft. These horses originally made from terracotta, are made from wood too. Somewhere, down the time line of the making of these figures the horse got more popular than the medium in which it is made. These horses have very unique shape and features.
Trip to Bankura West Bengal
When I landed in Bankura for the first time, I expected everything around would be in red terracotta color! The word Bankura roughly translates to ‘land of red soil’.
The place has been mentioned in the great epic Mahabharata where Bankura was described as Suhmo Bhumi. Wiki mentions: the word larh or rarh (in Nagari: rāḍh) was introduced after 6th century A.D. It comes from the old Austric word ráŕhá or ráŕho which means land of red soil. Rarh region is also called Rangamati in West Bengal, the Red Earth.
This and its association with bright red terracotta horses, a popular Indian handicraft, gave me the impression of Bankura as a red town.
Of course it wasn’t fully true!
Bankura Villages, the stage of Terracotta Horses
The villages of Bishnupur/Bankura where the terracotta horses and elephants are made in large scale are Panchmura, Rajagram, Sonamukhi and Hamirpur. Each place has its local style. The Panchmura-style of pottery is considered the best and the finest of all the four types.
These Bankura Horses were made for religious purposes and seen in temples during festivals, but over the years its elegant look was appreciated more and it soon began to adorn the living rooms across the world. The artisans realized the demand and soon it has turned into a good flourishing business for them. They come in various sizes and colors. Those wary of transporting terracotta stuff can buy the wooden forms.
Interesting Features of Bankura Horse
When I spotted the Bankura Horse for the first time, its eyes had the most mesmerizing effect on me. Such big bulging eyes! If they had made the eyelashes, the artist would have made them long and upturned, I imagined.
The neck is long and erect, as if trying to reach out to some audience far away. Well they have managed that to a large extent. They have moved on from religious sacrificial altars to adorning the drawing rooms far and wide.
I was intrigued by the holes on the elongated neck. Turns out that the circular vents facilitate uniform firing in the kilns.
You won’t find a sitting Bankura Horse. All of them stand straight on four legs. Their erect ears and tail are interesting. The wooden Bankura Horse souvenirs are made with separate ears and tail, which you can assemble by inserting them to the holes provided. The huge terracotta ones too come with removable ears and tail.
Origin of Bankura Horses
Why were the Bankura horses made? India is a land of myriad religious beliefs and practices. So it is not surprising that the origin of these terracotta horses was a ritualistic one.
This typical style of Bankura horse originated for the first time in West Bengal state of India. People of Bankura, since the medieval times offered them as a mark of obeisance to Dharma Thakur, Manasa and other village deities. They were also placed on the tombs of Muslim Saints by their believers.
Bankura Horse Price
At the hotel we stayed, there was a huge Bankura Horse. It was at least 7ft. tall and looked so grand! At one of the shops there I inquired the price of such a large sized one, and I was told it is 30,000INR!
You can buy Bankura terracotta horse online.
Also check out Baluchari silk sarees from Bishnupur as a souvenir.
Interested in other horse related stories? Check these:
Festival of Horses in Chettinad
Chetak, the Brave Horse
Horse Puzzle in Albert Museum Jaipur
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ok advise where terracotta horse native to Bengal is available as figured in website
Thanks, Indrani. Through your post, I get to revisit all these places. Much Appreciated for capturing that region through your lenses.
regards,
–Jayanta
Let me tell you At Panchmura, the price of 7 ft tall can not be more than INR 1000. My home town is both at Bankura and Bishnupur. Normally these are sold in pairs only. About a year back I bought a pair of 4ft horse packed decently by them and I brought it by train to Raipur. The price was Rs 400 after some bargain. There are wooden horses also which are priced about 2.5 times. So just see the artisans making them hardly get anywhere around the exported and extorted price.
I like the Name Bakura, find it weird for a horse's name.
Imposing and Beautiful.
Terracotta stuff are simply great. I love Bankura horses, Indrani. But for Souvenir, we can carry smaller sized ones, not 7 feet tall ones 🙂
Oh, I have a terracota version of this… didnt know it had a name and history to it 🙂
another thing i learned today 🙂 its beautiful.. thank you 🙂
Interesting
I love this sculpture.
Happy to see that these artists are getting due return of their hard work and art.
Thanks so for sharing this piece of beauty and the history.
Hari OM
That is truly beauty at large!! YAM xx
It's a pitty you are not on the picture 😉 Beautiful Terracotta Horse
Lovely art!
Superb!
Someone gave me a much smaller one once!!
Amazing Terracotta horse !
Beautiful
Woah! For something so beautiful cost wouldn't matter 🙂
We had two pieces and got broken in shifting .They are good decorative pieces in drawing hall
Terracotta horse, it is beautiful Indrani.
Whenever I go abroad I carry terracotta for my friends, this is huge but it is soooooo beautiful. Would love to have two of these at the entrance of my home.
Something with that many zeroes behind the price, no matter the currency, is too expensive for me! Very pretty though. 🙂
Beautiful! I can see why it is so popular!! Wonderful capture for the day, as always, Indrani! Hope your week is going well!!
how very neat!