Adding art to everyday items

The handloom and handicraft expo that commenced on April 2 is delighting the city with the unique collection from all over the country under one roof.

Sharanpur handicrafts

The entrance of the expo itself acts as a show stopper with the trendy ‘Sharanpur handicrafts’ from Uttar Pradesh.

The stall has a huge collection of artistic jewellery boxes with Kashmiri and Moradabad cross work. The other handicraft items include showpieces, antique gramophones and telephones, hookah, artistic wooden furniture, book stands and others.A huge collection of wooden acupressure items is the main highlight of his shop. Speaking to City Herald, M D Asif says that the acupressure items in his shop will provide relief to various ailments. “The foot roller, wonder roller and spine roller will provide relief from back, neck and foot aches. The finger roller will enhance memory power. The hand pressure ball helps in pressing the various pressure points in the hand and jimmy pointer will help in applying to pressure on specific points,” says Asif. Most of the acupressure items start from Rs 50 to Rs 500.

Toy stall

Wooden toys from Channapatna and Sawantwadi is adding to every kids delight. When most are fascinated with the famous magic top that changes sides while spinning, some parents are buying the cup and ball toy to enhance their child’s body movement and coordination. Colourful rattles for toddlers Dhulan Set, antique wooden toy cars and are other toys from several others.The toy shop also has a bowl full of wooden white eggs.
Shop owner Praveen reveals that these white eggs are quite popular among artists as many display colourful artwork on it. Other than that, many others buy them to scare the lizards away, he adds.

Sarees

The mela also has a collection of sarees that start from Rs 165 and goes up to Rs 2,000, says Sanjay Jain. The stalls have more than 20 varieties of sarees such as Pashmina from Kashmir, Gadwal Silk, Narangpet Sarees, Bangalore Silk, Banaras Cotton, Jamdani and Kanthawork sarees from Bengal, Sungadi Sarees from Madurai, Bandhini and Bhandej sarees, Chanderi, Mangalgini and several others.

Bags

The leather Shantiniketan bags which has been intricately worked on with emboss and paint is drawing the crowd’s attention. Sheikh Kalim reveals that these bags are made in Vivekananda Ashram and the work on it is called as ‘Shanthiniketan’.

For all jute lovers another stall offers bamboo and jute bags which has been woven into trendy designs. Some of these bags have beautiful paterns designed with sea shells. The Banjara Bags from Andhra Pradesh is another popular stall. The bright coloured cotton bags are handmade having innovative designs from beads and mirrors. The mobile pouches start from Rs 20 and the bags range up to Rs 350.

Jewellery

Hyderabad pearls have come to Mangalore in this exhibition. With the royal ‘Ranihaar’ with pearl, emerald and ruby work that cost Rs 6,000, this stall also has stone earrings that start from Rs 40. Ghulab Umbhavat from Jaipur has all kinds of precious stones in his stall. With the intricately worked rose studs from coral and jade to the turquoise jewellery, this stall is a visual treat. Ghulab reveals that the priciest item in his stall is a crystal quartz chain that costs Rs 20,000.

This chain is just not jewellery but has medicinal qualities as it cools the body and is extremely helpful for BP patients, he claims.Ali from Jaipur has more than 30 varieties of Bangles in his stall. The simple bangles start from Rs 30 and the stone work cost Rs 450.
Another shop with colourful crystal stones is ready to design jewellery instantly as per the customer’s requirement.

The expo also has cotton block print bedsheets from Panipat, Rajasthani Gagras and Dhoti Kurtas for children, sandals, curtains, bronze and marble work items and other home pharphenelia.

The expo will be open for public till April 18 from 10 am at Hotel Woodlands.