N-E crafts fair begins in Mangalore

One need not travel to the North East States of India to buy authentic cane and bamboo items. Thanks to the ‘North East Crafts Fair 2012’ which has kicked off in Hotel Woodlands, Mangaloreans can have a slice of the eight sister states right in the city for the next 12 days.

The expo is organised by the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India in association with the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (a Government of India Enterprise).

The expo has brought the artistic cane and bamboo items, dried decorative flowers, trendy jewellery, jute bags, a royal textile collection, art metal ware, embroidery works, wood carving works and many other items to Mangalore.

“We have good quality cane and bamboo furniture from Assam. The furniture is light weight as well as trendy. We hope we get good sales in Mangalore,” says Raju from Assam. Pointing out to one of the bamboo sofa sets, he says that it is the costliest item and costs Rs 28,800. However, many can buy bamboo stools, teapoy, baskets, vases which start from Rs 500, he says.

Ashiu from Nagaland has a beautiful collection of dried decorative flowers. Speaking to Deccan Herald, he says that there are Solah tree flowers which cannot be found in this part of the region. All the flowers are natural and last long, he adds.

Kaisa from Assam, says that she has dress materials made from pure Assam Silk which starts from Rs 2,500 and from Mulberry Silks which cost Rs 1,500.

She further explains that Assam has a two piece saree. The dresses and sarees have the unique ‘Meri’ and ‘Keri’ designs, she adds.

Inaugurating the expo on Wednesday, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel stressed on keeping the traditional handicrafts alive. “Mangaloreans are art and culture loving people. They will definitely love the authentic handicrafts here,” he said.

North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited General Manager D C Borkotoky said that the main objective of the expo is to promote sales, increase awareness in favour of handlooms and handicrafts, expose crafts persons and weavers to the outside market, launch new products and to eradicate the middlemen in the Handloom and Handicrafts sector.

As many as 140 crafts persons from eight sister states of North Eastern Region comprising of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are taking part in the expo, he says. The expo will conclude on March 19.