The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Elephant Tales' at Dilli Haat

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Friday, Dec 15, 2006
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New Delhi

`Elephant Tales' at Dilli Haat

Indo-Sri Lanka crafts design workshop begins from December 19

FORGING NEW TIES: A `batik' creation from Sri Lanka.

Every year Dastkari Haat Samiti conducts a project to forge cultural bonds with other countries through craft techniques and design exchanges.

This year the Samiti is organising an Indo-Sri Lanka crafts design workshop titled "Elephant Tales" during its fortnight-long crafts bazaar at Dilli Haat in the Capital beginning December 19.

By inviting designers and crafts-persons from another country to exchange their skills with indigenous artisans here, the Samiti widens the vision and reach of Indian artisans and gives the foreign artisans a chance to savour the Dilli Haat experience.

This year, a famous designer from Sri Lanka, Ena De Silva, who has revived "batik" and taken it to higher levels in her own country will bring talented artisans from her own village of Matale where she runs a craft and heritage centre.

The octogenarian designer, who is well known in her own country for extravagant designs in many craft skills, will bring artisans trained in batik, embroidery, woodwork and sheet metal work to share their skills and learn new aspects from Indian artisans.

Products created during the workshop will later be replicated and sold in national as well as international markets. Crafts designed at the Matale Heritage Centre will be up for sale at Dilli Haat.

Speaking about Dastkari Haat Samiti's role in organising the event, its president Jaya Jaitly says: "Design inputs gained from special workshops and events organised in other countries and engagement with artisans across the country enable Dastkari Haat Samiti to showcase their products at the end of every year. This helps artisans to test the market, their new developments and instil confidence in those who are new to urban marketplace."

Other features at the crafts bazaar will include craft workshops for children from December 20 to 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where the little ones will be given an opportunity to create craft or decorate textile along with craftsperson, besides enjoying magic and puppet shows. -- Madhur Tankha

-- Madhur Tankha

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