A form of woodwork, woodturning is used to create wooden objects on a lathe, a machine for changing the shape of the wood. Indian woodworkers who practice this are called sutradhars.

Woodturning is different from other woodworking crafts, because the wood moves while the tool stays still. This allows woodturners to create intricate shapes and designs. They create floral and geometric carvings on pillars, brackets, beams, and rafters of traditional chandimantaps (community halls) in villages that are centres of rural culture.

Woodturning is an ancient craft. It is believed to be active in India since before the stone sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora.

Sutradhars in Burdwan, specially Kalna, use mango wood to make platters and bowls in different shapes. In the districts of Howrah and 24 Parganas, they make panels and decorative furniture with teak, sheesham, and mahogany. The Karanga community, living in the Susunia Hapania forest region of Bankura district, are also known to craft turned wood items.

Chandimantaps are popular for displaying this remarkable woodwork form. They can be found in Atpur and Sripur-Balagarh in the Hooghly district, and in Ula-Balagarh in the Nadia district.

In West Bengal villages, you can see carved wooden images and figures in temples and shrines. The main deities are often folk gods and goddesses. The images are carved from neem or bel wood.

Any information on this page is anecdotal and based on publicly available details. If you're interested in learning more, click here.