The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Women self-help groups' artistic touch on display

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 05, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Women self-help groups' artistic touch on display

J. Malarvizhi

The Navrathiri sale exhibition is on till October 17 Soft toys and colourful dolls of all materials are available for those looking to improving their kolu dolls collection. Terracotta Ganeshas in fascinating shapes and sizes catch the eye.

COLOURS GALORE: A selection of the products available at the Navarathiri Sale Exhibition of Women Self Help Groups Products, inaugurated at the Vellore Lakshmiammal Kalyana Mandapam, near the Kapaleeswarar Temple, on Monday. — Photo: K.V. Srin ivasan

CHENNAI: A kolu of decidedly feminist character dominates the centre of the Vellore Lakshmiammal Kalyana Mandapam, next to the Kapaleeswarar Temple. The Arthanareeswarar symbolises the equality of man and woman, proclaims a placard. The toy `wedding' is captioned with an anti-dowry message. And doll women sitting in a circle proudly bear the legend of `self-help group meeting'.

The Navrathiri Sale Exhibition of Women Self Help Groups' Exhibition on till October 17, showcasing the work of self-help groups from across the State, was inaugurated by P. Vijayalakshmi Palanisamy, Minister for Social Welfare, on Monday, at two venues near the Kapaleeswarar Temple. Most products at the sale have been manufactured by the self-help groups in the districts after receiving training and loans.

Soft toys and colourful dolls of all materials are available for those looking to improving their kolu dolls collection. Terracotta Ganeshas in fascinating shapes and sizes catch the eye in the stall of the groups from Trichy.

The pot-pourri of miscellaneous other products, though, is what makes the exhibition fascinating. There are rings made of shells from Ramanathapuram, cabbage, carrot and beetroot wafers that can be fried from Tuticorin, flavoured badam milk and jute bags of all sizes from Coimbatore. There are also various medicinal oils from the Nilgiris, besides the intriguing `chocolate tea'.

There is also an array of textile products, most manufactured by the groups themselves. A saree for display from Kanyakumari has been placed for the UNESCO prize and carries heavy embroidery. Footmats, shirts, table covers, sarees and material for salwar kameez sets at affordable rates are also available.

The exhibition is on till October 14 and the one at Teja Bhavan, on East Mada Street, is on till October 17.

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