Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Everything has a novel touch in this exhibition

T. Saravanan

Painting on palm stems draws visitors' attention

CONCLAVE OF CREATIVITY: Visitors taking a look at the handicrafts on display at the exhibition in Madurai on Sunday. — Photo: S. James

Madurai: The vibrant hues of timeless craftsmanship, embodying unmatched perfection and ethnic grandeur, came to fore at the Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association Hall (Meenakshi Hall), the venue of the handicrafts exhibition and sale put up by Pudumai, the Pondicherry Pudumai Handicrafts Artisans Cooperative Society.

Terracotta figurines welcome you as you enter the Hall with hammocks and paper lamp-shades hanging on the either side of the entrance. The world of handicrafts unveiled once you are in. Right from crafty painting works to the dry flower objects the exhibits attract the spectator.

Aimed at popularising traditional handicrafts and helping the artisans, the exhibition had on display several craftworks of artisans registered with `Pudumai'. This exhibition had provided them an opportunity to meet and market their products directly to customers.

The exhibition offered a special discount of 15 per cent on handicrafts.

Besides, terracotta and papier mache exhibits, there were also handicrafts on shells, acupressure massage sets, ceramic and marble works and gem stones.

But what impressed the spectators was the painting on palm stems. It was deftly done.

"The dry palm stems are gathered from Aurovile. We collect dry palm stem, season it before we start painting on it. Besides, we were also given special training by `Pudumai' and the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles," said R, Mani, a trained craftsman from Pondicherry.

Moreover, textiles with Batik printing and knitted leather goods caught the attention of the visitors.

"Wide varieties of knitted leather goods are attractive. Besides, the mats and lamp shades in various hues are also impressively displayed," said P. Muthukumar, a gift shop owner.

The exhibition will come to a close on March 12 and will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Lawyers seek more facilities at Bench
Job fair on March 18, 19
Petition against filling vacancies in university
Everything has a novel touch in this exhibition
Bal Bhavan for tribal children in State mooted
Special events to bring out excellence of girl children
Long-standing dispute between couple resolved
Teachers' demand on restoration of benefits
TASMAC outlet burgled
Licence for browsing centres
Around the City
In Madurai Today
Reporter's Diary

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu