Sankhakar is a caste belonging to
West Bengal, involved in the making of ‘sankhas’ or conch shell bangles. The Sankhakar are categorized as the makers of sankhas and sankha-baniks, traders in the shell product.
It is a custom among the married woman of West Bengal to wear ‘sankhas’ to show their marital status. As per the tradition of this land, a widow should break these bangles while last rites of her husband are performed.
It is a tradition to blow sankhs or conch shells every evening and during festive and religious occasions. These conch shells are some times engraved with designs or scenes from mythologies.
