'Ragi Kana' to showcase rare handlooms

First santhe to be held from tomorrow, off Bannerghatta Road

A serene farmland off Bannerghata Road will transform into a cultural hub displaying rare handloom weaves and agricultural products from various parts of the state.

The ‘Ragi Kana’, is a weekend santhe, which will bring together agricultural and handloom co-operatives from various parts of Karnataka to sell their produce.

The four-day long exhibition that will be held from May 12 to 17 will also offer a glimpse into the life on a farm at Sri Ramakrishna Samagra Shikshana Kendra.

Gandhian and freedom fighter H S Doreswamy and theatre personality Arundhati Nag will inaugurate the event on Friday.

“We want to bridge the gap between the rural and the urban. Through the medium of this santhe, we wish to provide a platform for the rural-based cooperatives and federations of farmers and handloom weavers to come and sell their produce and facilitate a meaningful exchange,” said Abhilash C A, convener of the event.

Other attractions

The exhibition will also include folk theatre performances,  film screenings on sustainability and equity, seminars, workshops, demonstrations of various traditional village practices and a host of other activities.

Visitors can also try their hands on spinning a charkha and tour the farmland. They can also get a taste of village cuisines that include ragi-based food items, ambali, majjige among others.

Bridge between city, village

“The first santhe will be held between May 12 and 15, following which the santhe will be held every Sunday. We want to build a system with the help of communities, students and the trust to create such santhes that will act as a bridge between city and the village,” added Abhilash.

Ragi Kana is a people’s movement jointly undertaken by the Graama Seva Sangha and Hulkul Muniswamappa Munivenkatamma Trust.