Later, however under cultural influence of the Mughals in Delhi the mosques of Bengal lost their local flavor and acquired a Mughal look. The Hindu temples then became the sole bearers of a local tradition which had been initiated by Muslims. Many of these Hindu temples show signs of experimental efforts to integrate representation of iconographic figures, images of Hindu gods and goddesses, with fine floral and geometric designs adopted from the mosques. On which sits wisdom. An old Bengali proverb These crafts are used to make widely used household and gift items.
Baskets find a great variety of uses in rural Bengal.
In its warm, humid climate, the mat is the most popular floor covering to sit or to sleep on. Variations in local climate, materials, ways of life and traditions in different region and among different ethnic groups have lent a rich variety of shapes, forms and textures to both mats and basketry and a great diversity in the manner of their use. The most popular of the mats produced in Bengal is the madur . Its production has now taken on an organized scale by weavers of the Mahishya caste mainly in the southern parts of the district of Midnapore, the largest district in West Bengal which covers the whole coastal area of the state, west of the river Ganges. The madur mat is woven on a simple bamboo frame loom.