The essence of Bengali culture is evident in various forms, ranging from literature to oral tradition and many more. The city of joy, Kolkata, has been aptly defined by the amalgamation of cultures and traditions that form a pathway that perfectly fits the definition of cultural synthesis, a process by which different cultures merge and introduce fresh elements into the established cultural expressions, customs, and styles, culminating in the development of distinct new identities. Among the cultural traditions, Topor Mukut holds a special place among the Bengalis, from elites to the subalterns.
ORIGIN AND INTRODUCTION
FIG. 2: It depicts the sacredness of the Topor Mukut
The origin of Topor Mukut can be traced to Indian Hindu mythology, mainly in the Shiva Puran, where we find a story that Lord Shiva, during his wedding ceremony, ordered Lord Viswakarma to make a crown-like headgear full of ornaments, designs, and various motifs, but he failed to do so because he is much more associated with hardcore metallurgy and metal or mechanic crafting. As a result, Lord Shiva hired a Malakar, the person who makes garlands. He was ordered to make a headgear with a material, Shola, and he successfully presented a headgear that came to be known as Topor Mukut, made up of Sholapith. By then only it became the key component in Bengali culture and tradition.
The Topor Mukut is made up of Shola, which is generally a high-altitude evergreen plant particularly dominant in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Orissa, and Bengal. It can be possible for this plant to reach heights of seven to eight feet. It is also called Indian Cork, and its scientific name is Aeschynomene Aspera. These pants are of two types: the softer one is called Bhatua Shola, and the harder one is called Kath Shola. In the Bengal region, Bhatua shola is used for making the Topor Mukut.
This Mukut is usually used in Bengali weddings and child ceremonies such as Annaprashan, a tradition that marks the beginning of a rice ceremony of the child so that the child can take solid food after that, and it happens around six months after the baby’s infancy. One of the key elements of the Topor Mukut is that it’s like a conical crown that depicts the presence of Lord Krishna and is thought to bring his divine blessings and protection.
TYPES OF TOPOR MUKUT DESIGNS
There are various types of Topor Mukut, which are extensively used in Bengali rituals, mainly weddings. Based on sources, there are various types of Topor Mukut. The list is as follows:
- Shell Topor Mukut: a headgear that is being designed or ornamented with seashells.
- OTT Topor Mukut: a more ornate and extravagant variation of traditional Topor Mukut.
SOURCE: Pinterest FIG. 4: OTT Topor Mukut - Lightweight Topor Mukut: It is a normal and very lightweight Topor Mukut.
- Faux Mogra Topor Mukut: a Mukut designed with the touch of mogra flowers.
- Pearl Topor Mukut: a headpiece that is elaborately designed with pearls.
- Gold Topor Mukut: a Mukut fully made up of gold.
- Feather Topor Mukut: It is a ceremonial headpiece crafted from feathers.
- Flower Topor Mukut: It is a ceremonial headpiece adorned with various flowers.
- Swan Topor Mukut: a swan-type structure in the Mukut.
- Multi-colour Topor Mukut: The Mukut is made up of various colors.
MATERIALS USED IN MAKING TRADITIONAL TOPOR MUKUT
Creating a shola pith Topor Mukut, the traditional ceremonial headgear worn by Bengali grooms and brides, requires a selection of various specific tools and natural materials, where each component contributes uniquely to the whole structure, detailing, and decoration of the Topor. The main key materials involved in its making are as follows:
- The main raw material that is being used is the shola plant, mainly the softer and more tender one. The stem is used in making the Topor Mukut. The softer and lighter the stem, the more beautiful the final output will be.
- Glue is one of the vital ingredients, as it helps to merge the elements of the Topor, and it is used for joining the carved shola pieces at the base, which is made up of cardboard.
- A sharp blade or knife is used to slice the shola stem and make it into thin strips. On these thin strips, fine and elaborate motifs are being carved and decorated.
- A piece of cardboard is used to attach the sholas and make the whole headpiece durable and stronger. Thus, it helps in maintaining accuracy before the carving begins.
- To beautify the actual output, colored threads and glitters are often used and properly applied. These elements make the whole Topor more decorative and artistic.
- Last but not least, scissors play a vital role in trimming and adding perfection to both the shola pieces and supporting materials like cardboard to the desired size and form.
MAKING PROCESS OF TRADITIONAL SHOLAKAJ TOPOR MUKUT
One of the foremost processes is to create a blueprint of the whole designing and making process. The first step that the artisan does is creating a conical shape in the cardboard by using a template, and then it is cut out properly and rolled out as a cone and joining the adjacent sides. Now, the process involves shedding the stem’s outer black layer to get access to its inner milky white section. Thus, the white shola is ready to be carved and designed. The traditional designs were circular or semi-circular motifs, which are being designed, but the intensity depended upon the quality of the shola and its flexibility. The whole cardboard is covered with this layer of designed shola with the help of different kinds of glue that is being made by mixing rice powder and hot water. Once the sholas are properly adjusted, the whole piece is decorated with pearls, beads, threads, glitter, mirrors, and many more. Thus, this is the basic way of making the Topor Mukut.
FIG. 7: The stems of shola plant
CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF TOPOR MUKUT
The art form of shola pith, mainly the Topor Mukut, has a profound impact on the socio-cultural milieu among Bengali households, especially within the context of weddings. This headgear is traditionally worn by the groom and the bride, which symbolizes the unification of both feminine and masculine energy in the general sense. This art form is not merely an object or showpiece, but it shows the continuity of handicraft heritage in India in general and Bengal in particular. This art form gave a cultural and ethical identity to the Malakar community of Bengal, who have been involved in this shola pith craft for generations.
This craftsmanship of Topor Mukut is promoting the rise of agro-based industries, which is promoting sustainability as well as employment generation among the Malakars, who have been the product of exploitation from the historical past. The rise of promoting this cultural milieu got its foundational base from the late colonial period, which resulted in self-employment for the backward class.
The Malakar artisan makers, or the makers of garlands, define the use of shola pith crafts such as Topor Mukut as a symbol of purity and sacredness, bringing peace, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment. After marriage, it is often seen that the bride keeps certain parts of the Topor Mukut on the locker or the entrance gate of the house to eradicate negativity and welcome positivity. It shows how culture is manifesting itself through faith, which leads to more prominence of artisanal craftsmanship.
This craft is practiced in a few districts of West Bengal, such as Burdwan, Murshidabad, Nadia, South 24 Parganas, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. The crafts from these districts are being taken to ‘Haats,’ a gathering of handicraft products for promotion and commercial purposes. The centers of haat are Ultadanga Haat, Munshir Haat, and Diamond Harbour Haat, which become the epicenter of cultural amalgamation and promotion of local craftsmanship.
FIG. 8: Shola Ghar shop at Barrackpore
CONCLUSION
In this modern era, these feelings of craftsmanship present themselves in a more commercialized way through the help of trade and commerce. Modern centers such as Kolkata and Madras made way for the commercialization of this craft. Artisans of shola pith are now giving a modern touch to these crafts, such as toys, home decor, and antique pieces. The products that started as ritualistic purposes are now getting the influence of modern-day commercialization, which is slowly diminishing the shola pith crafts, such as Topor Mukut. The shola pith products are now being exported to several countries around the world, including the USA, France, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Russia. While agro-based industries are hosting numerous workshops to promote shola pith craft, there is a noticeable decline in the traditional spirit of these items. Their recent resurgence in popularity is largely attributable to contemporary design influences.
WORKS CITED
Baral, P. B., & B, S. (2017, November 22). Shola Pith Topor. Digital Learning Environment for Design, 1-13. https://archive.org/details/dsource_shola-pith-topor/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater
Halder, G. (2022, December). Prospecting and problems of Sola Pith Plant harvesting and the Sholapith Handicraft in West Bengal. International Journal for Food and Nutritional Sciences, 11(11), 1-10. https://ijfans.org/uploads/paper/b116b63c2c220db43a7820cce24f90d6.pdf.
Is Bengali mukut & topor mandatory during Bengali Hindu wedding? Is it just a custom or has any implications in rituals? (n.d.). QUORA. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://www.quora.com/Is-Bengali-mukut-topor-mandatory-during-Bengali-Hindu-wedding-Is-it-just-a-custom-or-has-any-implications-in-rituals