Vibrant culture on display

Craft Calling

This is visible at the ‘Kala Madhyam Mela’, which opened at the Chitrakala Parishat recently. Full of colour, each stall has something special for the visitors. The festival is vibrant and has innumerable items to purchase like toys, food products, clothes, bags and furniture.

The stalls present the best of the crafts available in the country. It has Maheshwaris, Chanderis, Tussars of Bhagalpur and Maharashtra, Bandhini suits and saris from Kutch, Khadi clothing, Gujarat Batik, Kantha etc. “Events like these are always a treat because of the variety of clothing you get. Also, the colours and the embroidery work are a refreshing change from the regular fare,” said Rajitha, a visitor.

Other items available include accessories and embellished garments with tribal and mirror work embroideries from Karnataka, Kutch and Rajasthan, which attract attention because of their colours. Lucknow ‘chikan’ work is another attraction for many of the women.

The fair also showcases a lot of home accessories like bamboo curtains, cushion covers and fine cotton table linen.  An interesting stall is the one which showcases Longpi stone pottery — a characteristic grey black pottery which includes cooking pots, stout kettles, bowls, mugs and trays.

These pottery items are made with hand and are meant for cooking over gas or firewood. Printing blocks for cloth art work and ceramic metal art are also big hits. Artists from Madhya Pradesh have a stall dedicated to Gond travel painting. The jewellery section included silver filigree, Kundan and Minakari, Hyderabadi pearls, Dhokra, Lac, Banjara, Naga tribal and white metal pieces.

If the clothes do not catch your attention, the accessories definitely will.  There is a lot to see in the art and craft section. From the jute handicrafts of West Bengal to the Kerala hand paintings, there many things to explore.

The exhibition is a perfect place to look for gift items like decorated candles, clay pots, paper lamps, colourful bags, brass artifacts and wall hangings.  There is also a lot to look forward to like pottery making, hair-braiding and henna art, all of which will keep one occupied. The fair is open till May 22.