1.4 Gujarat, Bengal and Eastern India

Last updated at July 14, 2026 by

Extract from the Text

“The adjoining state of Gujarat has its own indigenous take on pankhas. These hand fans are elegant pure cotton-based fans embellished with mirror work… Artisans in Bengal make delicate pankhas from the beautiful milky-white spongy centre of the sola. The palm leaf hand fans are locally referred to as Tal Patar Pankha.”

Summary in Bullet Points

  • Gujarat — mirror work fans: Pure cotton embellished with mirror work . Elegant and light . embellished = made more attractive by adding decorative details

    Gujarat ka cotton fan mein mirror work hota hai. Cotton = light aur elegant, mirror = shine aur beauty.

  • Gujarat — bead fans: Covered with colourful beads, silver handle . Gujarat is India’s bead craft centre ; used as wall decorations .

    Gujarat bead craft ka centre hai. Yeh fan colourful beads se covered hota hai aur silver handle ke saath wall decoration ki tarah use hota hai.

  • Gujarat — Kutch leather fans: Hand-stitched leather decorated with thread and wool at seams. Made by home-based women workers .

    Kutch ka leather fan hath se siya jaata hai aur dhaage aur oon se sajaya jaata hai. Ghar pe kaam karne waali mahilayein banati hain.

  • Bengal — Tal Patar Pankha (sola fans): Delicate, milky-white, spongy sola grass . Easy to carry; kept permanently in Bengali homes.

    Bengal ka Tal Patar Pankha = palm leaf. Sola se banta hai, halka aur sundar. Har Bengali ghar mein milta hai.

  • UP — Phadh fans: Pure gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills . Recognised across India for antiquity and rarity .

    UP ka Phadh fan gold, silver zari, silk aur satin se bana hota hai. Bahut purana aur rare hai.

  • Odisha and Bihar: Odisha has large palm leaf fans; Bihar has colourful, sturdy bamboo fans.

    Odisha: bade palm leaf fans. Bihar: colourful bamboo fans — strong aur long-lasting.

NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Check Your Understanding (NCERT Kaveri page 74)
I. I. Complete the table. Name the type of fan and the material used in each state.
State Type of Fan Material Used
Rajasthan Appliqué hand fan _________________
_________________ Gold thread (zardozi)
Temple hand fans _________________
Gujarat Mirror work hand fans _________________
_________________ Beads, silver handle
_________________ Leather, decorated with thread and wool
West Bengal Sola hand fans / Tal Patar Pankha _________________
Uttar Pradesh _________________ Pure gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills
Bihar _________________ Bamboo
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Answers:
State Type of Fan Material Used
Rajasthan Appliqué hand fan Fabric pieces in different shapes, ornamental needlework
Zardozi hand fan Gold thread (zardozi)
Temple hand fans Engraved brass, long handle
Gujarat Mirror work hand fans Pure cotton with mirror work
Bead hand fans Beads, silver handle
Kutch leather fans Leather, decorated with thread and wool
West Bengal Sola hand fans / Tal Patar Pankha Sola (water grass) / palm leaf
Uttar Pradesh Phadh hand fans Pure gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills
Bihar Bamboo hand fans Bamboo

Yahan har state ka fan aur material yaad rakho — Rajasthan mein applique, zardozi aur brass temple fans; Gujarat mein mirror work, bead aur Kutch leather fans; Bengal mein sola aur palm leaf wale pankhe; UP mein Phadh fans jisme gold-silver zari lagti hai.

Board Pattern Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Fill in the Blank 1 mark
Gujarat is the centre for ___ craft in India. (bead / silk)
How to answer: Look for the sentence mentioning Gujarat’s national distinction in the text.
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bead — The text says: ‘Gujarat is the centre for bead craft in India.’ This is why its pankhas are covered with colourful beads and used as wall decorations.

Gujarat bead craft ka centre hai, isliye wahan ke pankhe beads se dhake hote hain.

Short Answer 2 marks
What are ‘Tal Patar Pankha’ and what does the phrase ‘perpetually kept as an article of possession’ tell us about them?
How to answer: Identify the fan type and explain what the phrase reveals about its place in Bengali culture (35 words).
View Answer Hide Answer
‘Tal Patar Pankha’ are palm leaf hand fans from Bengal. The phrase ‘perpetually kept as an article of possession’ means these fans are always found in Bengali households — they are not occasional items but a permanent, cherished part of daily domestic life.

Tal Patar Pankha = Bengal ka palm leaf fan. ‘Perpetually kept’ matlab hamesha ghar mein rahta hai — yeh sirf fan nahi, ghar ki zaruri cheez hai.

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