A Study on the Historical Genesis and Roots of Jamdani in Bengali Folklore: A Qualitative Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.546Keywords:
Jamdani, Bengali folklore, handloom textile, cultural heritage, qualitative research, oral tradition, historical genesis, intangible heritage, weaving tradition, Bangladesh.Abstract
Jamdani – a fine handed woven textile from Bengal has for long been revered, not only for its visual beauty, but for its rich cultural and historical context. Jamdani, often associated with royalty, has been closely associated with cultural life of Bengalis and is a part of that region's rich heritage and tradition. The paper discusses the ethnographic history and folklore of Jamdani, informed by archival resources, interviews with traditional weavers, and recorded oral histories. Through analyzing various ways in which Jamdani has been represented in local songs, stories and rituals, the study has revealed it to be something that transcends its physicality in the form of memory, identity and resistance. The research also comes to prick the narrative of Jamdani, as has evolved post-colonially as well as in contemporary age, which turns out accusing, and also continuity disruption in the hierarchy of its being handed down. This article would add to the larger conversations on intangible cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and the interpenetration of folklore and material culture in South Asia. Jamdani is one of the finest handloom textiles being practiced in Bangladesh with elaborate design and craftsmanship inspired from Bengali folklore. In this regard, the following themes are discussed drifting from cultural heritage perspective in qualitative research mode. Oral tradition and historical genesis Concept of intangible heritage and weaver’s tradition in Bangladesh.
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