Abir village after the mask village! Yes, you heard that right. Ichadi village of Balrampur in Purulia has been identified as Abir village by the West Bengal Khadi and Rural Industries Council under the State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles Department. On the eve of Holi (Holi 2026), tourists are now setting foot in Ichadi, a village in Abir, during the Palash season. This village of Janjatis draws the eye on the black pitch road with trees on both sides. Tourists have the opportunity to try and buy the herb called ‘Banpalash’ mixed with the earthy smell of Palash, which is full of decorated wall paintings and surrounded by dunes.
At the same time, ‘Bhurka Ipil’ has taken the place of hand-made Abi in Biswa Bangla stall. The Khadi and Gramin Shilpa Parshad is marketing their handmade Abeer. And the women of that village are now self-reliant by making this Abir. Now they don’t have to rely on their husbands to support themselves. After making Abir, money comes from selling it. And this is how Ichadi has changed. Badal also recognized the name of the village.
Papu Mukhopadhyay, district officer of the council, said, “We have identified that echadi as a village of Abeer. So that the women of the self-reliant group there can earn a lot of money by making Abeer. And through this work, the village has become involved in tourism.” Charidar of Chau Muksha Village Baghmundi is famous all over the world. It is because of that inspiration that this village of Balrampur, a neighboring block of Baghmundi, has been recognized as Abir’s village. About 130 families live in the village. Among them, most of the women of the family are making Abir as members of the self-reliant group. Jalika Tudu, president of the self-help group, member Urmila Tudu said, “We took training in 2017. But from 2023, the West Bengal Khadi and Grameen Shilpa Parshad took over our work. Since then, we have benefited from Lakshmilav.”
According to West Bengal Khadi and Rural Industries Council Purulia branch, a room, machines and various tools have been arranged for making Abir. This work is going on under the supervision of Balrampur BDO. This time, because of the touch of winter, Palash is not yet that way in Purulia. So this time the big surprise in the color festival of Jangalmahal is spinach herb. Beets, neem leaves are also present. And that Abir is also matching from last year’s Palash. But Palash Abir is the most in demand. The price of 100 grams of Palash Abir is Tk 35, Neem is Tk 45, Abir of beet and spinach is Tk 50.
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