Nothing divides Bengalis right down the middle more than football. Whether it is the local derby of Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal or the World Cup rivalry of Brazil-Argentina, supporting one or the other can sometimes make or break families.
The beautiful game and its iconic rivalries have been acknowledged even during Durga Puja where pandals have been shaped like the football with Brazil-Argentina colours adorning the walls. This festive season it found its place on a sari at Art in Life, CIMA Gallery’s annual lifestyle exhibition. Woven in Phulia, this cotton sari depicts a Brazil-Argentina match in progress and it has found a home with the ambassador of Brazil to India, Andre Aranha Correa Do Lago.
“I met the ambassador and his wife at a dinner and happened to show them a picture of the sari. He immediately said that I am coming to CIMA tomorrow and ‘you will please keep that sari for me’!” said Pratiti Basu Sarkar, chief administrator of CIMA.
Andre Aranha Correa Do Lago takes a closer look at the sari woven in Phulia
The sari has a white base with a thin red border. The body of the sari is decorated with little yellow-and-black footballs, but it is the pallu where all the action is happening. Twenty two players in Brazil and Argentina jerseys are shown battling it out, and it seems like Brazil has the ball. A fact that prompted the Brazilian ambassador, who visited CIMA with his wife Beatrice on Sunday, to joke about how he must show it to the Argentinian ambassador because Brazil was winning!
The on-pallu action even includes goal posts, the referee and two line referees.
“The ambassador observed how this football madness is another thing that is common to Brazil and Bengal,” said Sarkar, who pointed out how each of the figures were woven into the sari, not painted, printed or stitched. “The whole sari and every detail is entirely woven on a hand loom, which is what makes it such a great piece.”
Art in Life is on till October 1 at CIMA Gallery, 11am-8pm every day.
