Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Showcasing handicrafts of the North East

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The seven sisters from the North East are in town, wooing city residents with an array of traditional handicrafts and handlooms. The ongoing North East Crafts Fair at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here showcases a variety of products from the seven sister states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Cane and bamboo products, handloom textiles, carved wooden artefacts, embroidery, jewellery, brass and bell metal products and baskets are some of the exhibits. The hand woven fabrics from Assam with rich and symbolic ornamentation have captured the fancy of visitors to the fair. Tribal ornaments made of cane and bamboo, glass beads, silver vessels, and carpets featuring geometric and floral motifs of Arunachal Pradesh are other attractions.

The Manipuri products include Kauna grass cushions and mattresses, the ‘Laishinfee’ quilted cotton materials, and toys and dolls made of straw and clay. While Meghalaya is represented by a range of woven silk and pineapple fibre products, the stalls from Nagaland feature colourful spears, woven textiles with tribal motifs, and wooden baskets. The bamboo cap from Mizoram and cane and bamboo products from Tripura also add to the appeal of the exhibition.

The fair has been organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation with financial assistance from the Ministry of Textiles. The objectives of the fair are to promote the sale of handicrafts, provide an outlet for craftsmen, and launch new products and designs for trial and promotion. According to D.C. Borkotoky, deputy general manager, marketing, of the Corporation, the fair is expected to expose artisans to a wider market and larger clientele. He said such events had helped them to come up with new designs to suit contemporary tastes without compromising on traditional craftsmanship.

Over 65 crafts-persons and weavers are participating in the event. The organisers have also arranged live demonstration of a few select crafts.

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