‘Crafts Bazaar 2016,’ organised by the Crafts Council of India, opens tomorrow. Exuberant colours, eco-sensitive ethos, the essence of nature as well as the contemporary context are reflected in the products handcrafted by 150 artisans from around the country.
Once there one might pick up the rare Bhujodi sari woven by Chaman Premji Vankar, a revival Kanchivaram silk designed by Co-optex, Kumbham pottery’s terracotta murals, the cane and bamboo jewellery or Alok Jana’s Masland mats.
The Bazaar offers a dazzling collection of Kondapalli and Etikopakka toys, leather puppetry items from Andhra, high-on-style beads and bags and accessories, Odisha’s Pattachitra and tussar paintings. Also available is a wealth of weaves and embroideries such as chikankari, naksha kantha, kasuti, toda and lLambani done on saris, yardage and accessories.
For home décor take a look at Sanjhi panels, straw art, oven furnishings, grass mats and wood cuts. The visitor will get a chance to know the process of making a particular piece of art by meeting the artisans at their small work place. The artisans explain the history and relevance in the contemporary milieu, as well as their own passion in crafting a piece.
Vaikuntan Nakash wields a squirrel brush to paint the entire episodes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Siva Puranam and Radha Krishna Idylls on 60 ft by 6 ft specially prepared cloth that are unfurled to tell stories to rural audience in the Telangana region. “We are the only family carrying on this 510-year-old tradition known as Cheriyal Painting” says Vaikuntam.
“We prepare the natural colours ourselves with stone and earth colours being ground in the mortar, made into a fine paste, dried and kept for future use.” He further adds by pointing to his repertoire of wall hangings, “Cheriyal art will never die out, it is part of our culture.” These are sentiments one hears everywhere, whether it is from Mohammad Mujeeb Ahmed, who crafts the lac bangles, or Mohd Yusuf Khatri, who offers stunning Bagh saris and stoles. Sentiments echoed as Prasanta Moharana explained the creative process of his pattachitra or palm leaf engraving; Luhar Ibrahim whose copper bells bring music to the deserts of Rajasthan or the weavers of Bagh, Khadi, Ajrakh, Kota, Bagru and Dabu saris and textiles and the embroidery artisans who add value to our everyday lives by bringing together in their products ‘the thousand strands of Indian culture’ that Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay spoke about.
Crafts Bazaar 2016 has been sponsored by the Office of the Development
Commissioner of Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It is open from March 12 to 21 , at Co-optex Grounds , Pantheon Road, Egmore.
