The Chepstow Museum near the Wales-England border is holding a unique exhibition that features a garment lined inside with the ancient “Vrindavani Vastra” fabric identified with the 16th century Assamese saint, Sankardeva.
Assam is over 8000 km away from here, but its sights, sounds and history have been attracting many at an exhibition titled “Hidden in the Lining: Krishna in the Garden of Assam” in the Chepstow Museum near the Wales-England border, particularly the garment lined inside with the ancient “Vrindavani Vastra” fabric.
Experts believe that the garment was likely produced in colonial Calcutta. Assam is close to Calcutta and in the 18th century Chinese products were traded there for local use and onward transport to Europe.
The garment has been carefully preserved in the museum over the decades, using temperature control and soft folds. For long, the history of how the garment reached Monmouthshire in Wales remained unknown.
The exhibition until September includes Assam-related items from the British Museum and an animated film about Lord Krishna and a documentary on Assam. A group from London is scheduled to present a Bihu event at the museum on May 13, when the significance of the garment and its inner lining will also be highlighted.
