The Hindu : New Delhi News : Crafts Bazaar to focus on sustainable livelihood

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 28, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Crafts Bazaar to focus on sustainable livelihood

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Dastkari Haat Samiti is hosting its fortnight-long Annual Crafts Bazaar at Dilli Haat here beginning this coming Tuesday. This year’s bazaar will showcase exquisite crafts from South Asian countries.

Samiti president Jaya Jailty says the festival assumes significance as two interesting events have been planned. “With the United Nations observing 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibres and all the talk about climate change in Copenhagen, we want to show the link between sustainable environment and sustainable livelihood. The need of the hour is to strengthen our local products. Around 16 stalls of natural fibres would be set up to promote traditional artistic skills.”

The Samiti wants to demonstrate that nature’s most inexpensive resource can be used to produce items that can help people living in rural areas sustain themselves.

“The other section is ‘South Asian Women for Peace as Creativity’ in which women artisans from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Burma, Bhutan and Sri Lanka will showcase their skills. The whole South Asian region is a disturbed one, but the women are sustaining their children and families by practicing their traditional skills and handicrafts. If there is economic sustainability then there would be no reason for anyone to take up the gun,” adds Ms. Jaitly.

The Samiti president points out that pure pashmina from the Kashmir Valley will be another highlight of the weeklong fair. “These days many fake pashmina products are being sold across the Capital. One of the participant at the bazaar will show how pure pashmina is woven.”

The bazaar will also feature puppet shows, qawwalis, dandiya, chhau and bhangra dances.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor will inaugurate the festival. Talks on divergent topics by eminent personalities has been planned. “Politics of Peace” by Veena Sikri, “Art and Creativity” by Ajeet and Arpana Caur, “Eco Livelihoods” by Ranmal Jhala and “Cultural Expressions” by Sonal Mansingh would also be an added attraction for visitors.

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

New Delhi