The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Handicrafts array at Rajasthani Mela

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Handicrafts array at Rajasthani Mela

Staff Reporter

Daco paintings, featuring Ravi Varma's works, should be a crowd puller

TRADITIONAL HANDICRAFTS: Actress Sandhya at the Rajasthan Expo at Sri Sankara Hall. — Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Miniature terracotta vegetables and Chennapatnam toys welcome the visitors at `Rajasthani Mela' showcasing the variety and vibrancy of traditional handicrafts and handlooms from several States.

Inaugurated by actress Sandhya at Sri Sankara Hall, Alwarpet, the exhibition has Rajasthani gemstone paintings, silk and velvet paintings. The Daco paintings, featuring Ravi Varma's works, will be a crowd puller.

The exhibition has an array of Rajasthani handicrafts, including 70 varieties of bags, from Jaipur, in different sizes and hues, and mobile pouches.

An inlaid carving of elephant in white wood stands out among the white wood products, besides handmade dolls and white metal oxidised products.

Jaipur bangles and silver jewellery would entice the visitors with their intricate designs. The exhibition features Rajasthani handlooms, from block, kalamkari to Jaipur ghagra choli, for all age groups. Peacocks painted in bright yellow and blue, a part of the brass carvings from Moradabad, and miniature chair set would attract the children.

Textiles from other States, including applique, Gujarat ikkat, Lucknow chikan, Venkatagiri and phulkari work from Punjab are priced to suit every visitor's purse.

Besides the home linen and kitchenware, the expo has a variety of rosewood furniture and products in sheesam wood, including candle stands and spectacle stands.

Products from Tamil Nadu include Karaikudi kitchenware, Pathamadai tablemats and wall hangers and brass carvings from Thirukovilur. Cow belt wall hangers and an antique finish bullock cart are new additions.

The exhibition, on till July 24, is open between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. A 10 per cent discount on handicrafts and 20 per cent on handlooms will be offered.

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