The Hindu : New Delhi News : Showcasing traditional and unique crafts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 05, 2011
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Showcasing traditional and unique crafts

Madhur Tankha

- Photo: S. Subramanium

All smiles: Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi, Abhushan chairperson Nina Kothari (extreme left) and World Crafts Council chairperson Usha Krishna (extreme right) releasing the “Seed to Silver'' exhibition catalogue at the Jewellery Summit in the Capital on Friday.

NEW DELHI: An international jewellery summit, “Abhushan: Design Dialogue in Jewellery”, featuring a wide array of necklaces, earrings, rings and traditional crafts from India and abroad was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at The Ashok hotel here on Friday.

World Crafts Council, a non-government organisation working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, is hosting the three-day event.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Dikshit said that during a visit to Orissa she once noticed a group of women selling fish and bananas. “Though the women living in abject poverty hardly had much clothing, they nevertheless made up by wearing colourful flowers. The flowers were made by cutting textiles. I remember bringing a bagful of them and distributing them among my family members who wore it while going out. Everyone was curious to know from where they had obtained the flowers. The colours were so vibrant and everyone wanted to own one. I realised how beautiful articles can be produced from ordinary things.”

The Chief Minister said the three-day event provides an opportunity for growth, economic independence and emancipation. “The other day I went to Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhavan where interesting accessories made out of what we consider trash were on display.”

Noting that the summit will showcase traditional and unique crafts from different parts of the world, Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran said: “The Textiles Ministry provides marketing support to enrich the lives of handicraft artisans. We want poor craftspersons to get a suitable market for their innovative products. The event must move forward and be taken to other parts of the world. In fact, women have shakti and they have taken a lead in this field (producing jewellery).”

The Minister requested WCC's Usha Krishna and Nina Kothari to take the show to Chennai. He expressed hope that the summit will provide a platform for collaboration between artisans and designers from all over the world and synergise their ideas to produce new attractive and outstanding businesses as well as innovative marketing strategies.

Congratulating WCC for serving the cause of promoting unique jewellery, Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi said: “Encouragement must be given to craftspersons producing eco-friendly items like terracotta, natural fibre, wood, paper and recycled material.”

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

New Delhi