Attractive items under one roof

Craft Fair

Vivid colours greet the visitors who are coming to Chitrakala Parishat for Kala Madhyam Mela 2012. Artisans from all over the country — including places like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Indore, Mumbai and Delhi — have put up their best on sale at the fair, which will go on till December 16.

Lekhraj, a trader who has come from the Markana district in Rajasthan, is rather disappointed with the lukewarm response he has been getting at the fair. “I am selling Rajasthani puppets and other specialities from the state. I have been coming to Bangalore for the last ten years now.

The sale was great last year — but I am still waiting for it to pick up this year. The number of people who visited the mela on the weekends is good and we hope that our sales improve in the coming few days,” he adds.

Clay pots, blue pottery, glass lamps, various kinds of handmade jewellery and dress material like ikkat, bandhni, silk and kalamkari are available at the fair.

Naushad, an artist from Bikaner, is selling some very interesting handmade nameplates, watches and picture frames. “These frames are made with newspapers and kasuri methi which make them strong and durable. I make nameplates, small watches and picture frames,” he says.

The stall from Orissa has a wide array of multicoloured and multi-textured material. “We have ikkat saris, dress material and stoles. The response has been great so far and we hope that more people come and take a look at what we have got here. We come to the City every year and put up stalls in a couple of places,” says Shibu, a trader.

Coloured terracotta items and key chains, also on display, are quite appealing. Many had lined up to take a look at the beautiful handmade jewellery too. “I love the colours which have been used. They are beautiful and very intricately designed. They can be teamed up with anything — a kurti or a sari. They are traditional yet funky,” says Shweta, a visitor.

Ceramic craft products, at some of the stalls, looked beautiful and bright. Gaurav Sanvaliya, an artist from Indore, is inspired by the mandna and hina of mehendi art and has translated these on to pots and wall hangings. “The base can be anything — wood, ceramic, stone or marble. I design these items myself and my team helps me make the final product,” he says.