JOIN USThe ‘Orissa Traditional Handloom and Handicrafts Exhibition’ was held in the City recently. It had about 160 stalls from the different states of India.
A number of people came to see the variety of handicrafts on sale at the Chitrakala Parishath.
A few of the items exhibited included Kolkata terracotta works, Rajasthani paintings, Orissa tie-and-dye dress and Gujarati tops and dresses. The works, that reflected the culture of each place, left everyone impressed.
“There are many items on sale here. I am selling the traditional tribal art called Dokra, which is made of brass and depicts tribal culture and their gods and goddesses.
It is completely handmade and each piece takes about six to seven days to make. It is then finished with wax,” said Rajib Kumar Maiti, a stall owner.
The prices of the items started from Rs 120 and went up to Rs 10,000. Everything was handcrafted by the 13 tribal families that work for him. A variety of paintings and handlooms were also on display.
The items from Rajasthan were sure to add to the beauty of one’s house. “We sell iron items which are all mainly for home decor purpose.
They depict the life and culture of Rajasthan. Priced between Rs 500 and Rs 5000, these include clocks, stands, pots, wall hangings and statues,” said GK Ram, another stall owner.
The visitors were mesmerised by the art forms and handlooms. “The collections displayed here speak about the many tribal art forms. They not only help the artisans earn a living but also people like me learn about the cultures and traditions of different states,” said Dr Dinta, who was visiting the exhibition along with her friend.
They were many stalls from the North East in this exhibition too.
Said Poornima Pathak, who had a stall from Assam, “Most of the items here are made of cane. We sell bags, mats, hats and clocks made of cane which are available in plenty in Assam.”
She added, “It’s good to exhibit in a place like Bangalore. These items can be used in the day-to-day life of the people here. Items made out of cane are natural as well as decorative.”