A world of handicrafts

Fine artisans

Rajasthan Grameena Mela Pradarshana’, an exhibition of arts and crafts, will be held from July 28 to August 7 at Srinivasa Sagara Kalyana Mantap, Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar.

The exhibition is showcasing a unique and wide variety of silk and cotton products made by the best artisans from across the country. The exhibits include Shanti Niketan ‘kantha’ silk, cotton and silk saris; ‘kantha’ dress materials and printed pure silk saris; Hubli silk cotton saris, saris and dress materials from West Bengal; Bhagalpur silk, hand-block printed, khadi silk and cotton dress materials from Bihar.

One can also choose from ‘chanderi’ and ‘maheshwari’ cotton and silk saris and suits from Madhya Pradesh and Banarasi silk saris and dress materials among others. The other specialities are Gujarati mirror work and designer ‘kurtis’ from Gujarat, pearls and stone jewellery from Hyderabad, ‘kalamkari’ dress materials, ‘mangalgiri’ and ‘pochampally’ dress materials from Andhra Pradesh, ‘sambalpuri’ and ‘bomkai’ silk saris from Orissa.

Dinesh, the organiser of the exhibition, says, “Our aim is to provide a platform and showcase the raw talent of below poverty line artisans (BPLA) through this exhibition. We do not want to let the ‘karigari’ of Indian handicraft to become extinct and we also don’t want to let down those artisans who show the richness of our culture in their artistic handicrafts. It makes the ingeniousness of Indian products known and well-regarded all over the world.”