Bangladesh High Commission hosts first-ever Jamdani Exposition, recognized as UNESCO Intangible Heritage

Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Friday inaugurated the first-ever Jamdani Exposition at the National Crafts Museum, offering Indian textile enthusiasts an exclusive glimpse into the intricate artistry of Bangladesh’s most celebrated weave.

The exhibition remains open to visitors daily, until September 23.

Co-curated by renowned Indian craft and textile revivalist Chandrashekhar Bheda, the showcase brings together some of the finest Jamdanis woven by Bangladesh’s master artisans. A highlight is the two rare 150-year-old pieces.


“Jamdani cannot be replicated by machine,” Bheda told at the inauguration. “Its sheer transparency and delicacy are like weaving magic that floats in the air.”

Adding conceptual depth to the exposition, Chandrashekhar Saha, a pioneering force in Bangladesh’s craft revival, underlined the fabric’s lineage: “Once, Bengal’s Muslin reigned supreme. Jamdani stands on that same pedestal–an art you must see and feel to understand an enduring legacy.”

The inauguration drew some of the Who’s Who from India’s design and cultural fraternity. Award-winning designer Sunita Kohli evoked Jamdani’s storied past, once described as “woven air.”

“Emperors coveted it, traders carried it across seas, and poets struggled to capture its fineness. UNESCO calls it intangible cultural heritage - I call it intangible luxury, measured not by price, but by patience, time, and the human hand.”

Celebrated filmmaker and designer Raza Syed Muzaffar Ali called Jamdani “a cinematic delight, a true delight of light and texture, a beauty that can unite nations through a shared appreciation of craft.”

Conceptualized by Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, the exposition, according to him, was born from a serendipitous moment. “During our Independence Day anniversary celebrations this June, we displayed a few Jamdanis. The overwhelming response inspired us to present this,” he said. “Through this exhibition, we hope, people will discover the timeless beauty of Jamdani and the world of imagination that craftsmen unleash in looms”.

Two national award-winning Jamdani weavers, Mohammad Jamal Hossain and Mohammad Sajeeb–each with over two decades of experience–have been flown in from Bangladesh to demonstrate live the intricate process of weaving Jamdani at the exposition.

The inauguration ceremony drew an eclectic gathering of distinguished guests, including Envoys from dozens of countries, alongside artists, filmmakers, and textile connoisseurs.