City to host national level khadi exhibition from today

Khadi Utsav 2019, a national level khadi and village industries exhibition cum sales will be inaugurated on Wednesday at Freedom Park.

Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy will inaugurate the exhibition and Bengaluru Development Minister G Parameshwar will launch the live demonstration and S R Srinivasa, Minister for Small Scale Industries will inaugurate the stalls.

The exhibition organised on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, in association with Khadi and Village Industries Commision, will be open to the public from January 2nd to 31st.

Attractive varieties of khadi products, items made of cane, artworks made of hay, readymade khadi apparels, embroidery on khadi and many more artistic work will be displayed.

A special discount of 30% on all the khadi products will be offered. Cultural programmes will be organised in the evenings.

Dr Mahantesh N Kaur, chief executive officer of Khadi Board said: "The exhibition is themed for the exposure and market outlet to customers of khadi village industry sector.”

We are having two fashion shows by NIFT and REVA institute. The purpose to host the show is to introduce the khadi fabric among the young folks, he added.

Over 239 stalls will be set up to enable rural artisans to promote their products. Of which 129 stalls is only for khadi items.

Last year, the exhibition witnessed a footfall of 1.75 lakh people and a financial turnover of Rs 33 crore approximately, with visitors showing a keen interest in the exhibits and being warmly attended to by the organisers.

This year, the organisers are expecting a crowd of 2.5 lakh with a financial turn over of Rs 50 crore in 30 days.