Andhra Pavillion, etched with finesse

A large number of people have been thronging to Pragati Maidan to explore what Indian states and other participating countries have to offer at International Trade Fair 2015, this year. All the participants have put their best foot forward by displaying their culture, tradition, products and skills.

But Andhra Pradesh pavilion has something unique that has been drawing many eyeballs. Tall wooden artifacts with Indian god and goddesses carved on them are attracting the visitors to the hall to get a closer look at them. From the entrance gate to other corners, the artpieces are adding to the beauty of the bright hall.

Metrolife explored more about the beautiful creations and discovered the story behind it. On our left, there was a whole big stall named as ‘Bakshi Art & Crafts’, where many such amazing wooden works are displayed for sale.

From six-feet-long carving of Tirupati Balaji to a 10-inch miniature of Lord Ganesha, the stall had all the devis and devatas engraved in wood with price ranging from Rs 250 to 7, 00, 000. The pieces are all made out of neem wood as it is said to be “pure” and has a longer life as compared to others.

Explaining a 60kg six-feet-tall piece, M Venkatesh, owner of the company, says, “We have carved the Ram durbar in the wood. Starting from the scratch to the finishing touch, it took three months for this piece to get ready for sale. It costs around four lakhs.”

Venkatesh has been running this venture since 40 years now and employs 30 people. “I’ve been doing this since I gained my senses. I learnt this skill from my father who was a master in his art. I belong to Thorur village where there is no source of formal training. My workers have also learnt it from their ancestors or under me. But in recent time, many people have showed interest in this art form which was rarely took by anyone, because  of the hard labour and brilliant skills required.”

He has brought an entire truck full of such pieces from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh to sell them at the fair, where he has been participating for many years now. However, he carps about buyers’ response being disappointing this year compared to the previous edition.

While talking to one of the workers in the backyard of the pavilion, giving finishing touch to pieces, 42-year-old Venkataraman says, “I developed interest in wood carving while I was young. But only interest was not sufficient. I had to have the required skills. I learnt this from different sources and now have been doing this since 12 years. It is my only profession which earns my livelihood.”

Venkatesh has no outlet to sell his products and gets his business only by participating in exhibitions across the country. These products are bought as décor in homes, offices and are also placed in temples. He informs that he has godown in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar market from where he supplies these artifacts to North India. Three more days of the fair are remaining. So if you drop by, make sure you walk into the Andhra Pradesh pavilion and take a look at those beautiful creations.