Living traditions of embroidery in India demonstrate the validity of one of the world's richest cultural expressions. It was a language used by women to communicate their wisdom and the values they protect and nurture for themselves and their families.

Bengal embroideries were commissioned by Portuguese and English at Satgaon, the mercantile capital of Calcutta then. Known as the quilts, they consisted of large-sized bedspreads, wall hangings and shawls.

The quilted embroidery of Bengal was known as Kantha. Notable for their distinctly folk designs, it was made by the country women as cradle clothes, bedspreads, mostly as domestic gifts.

The kanthas were made of several layers of old and discarded white cotton men's dhotis and coloured threads were used for embroidery.

Kanthas infused the vitality and spontaneity of folks art - no two kanthas are alike. The motifs illustrate Hindu myths and rituals, scenes from everyday life, archaic figures of humans, animals and birds.