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বিষ্ণুপুর

Bishnupur

Tribal dance programmes are organised here on a regular basis. Other cultural fiestas are also conducted occasionally. The sarees of local varieties like Baluchari, Swarnachari and so on are collected in large number as souvenirs by the tourists and enthusiastic collectors both Indian and foreigners that happen to make a beeline to this place every Saturday and Saturday as an exotic tourist destination. Bishnupur and Bankura as a whole, is home to a large population of ethnic tribes like Santhals, Kheria, Sabars and so on. Languishing as they are in the doldrums of social marginalisation, administrative apathy and economic ghettoization, this haat has come up to them as a burgeoning commercial economic hub where their handicrafts and artifacts are also collected by the dilettante connoisseurs of art. Evening soirees of Kirtaan Gaan are also staged out by the local troupes from Dhengasole Bishnupur. Recently a noble initiative has been has been taken by the administration to arrange for the branding and geological mapping of all the artifacts sold at this mart. Even the poor women from the self Help Groups are being inducted in this holistic approach to development. They are preparing bio-degradable carry bags with the logo of 'Poramatir Haat’. Their products are also being sold here. Public amenities like sanitation, illumination, round the clock vigil and overall cleanliness of the place have also been ensured.

In fine we can say that with the passing away of the Malla reign — with its patronage of local genres of art, music, sculpture and architecture and its royal policy of social syncretism — this place underwent a lean phase of history characterised by economic marginalisation and social degeneration given the fact that under the Sultanate rule the epicentre of power got shifted to Gour. Bishnupur was left in the lurch. Even during the reign of the British colonisers, no significant development seems to have taken place here. Development at that time was centred on Calcutta. So it will not be an exaggeration to say that, in recent past, under the noble initiatives of the Sub-Divisional administration like Poramatir Haat, Balucharir Haat and so on, a new momentum of multifarious development has been set in motion in the Temple Town.