Karnataka - Mangalore   

Of beads, bracelets, and key chains

— PHOTO: R. ESWARRAJ

EXQUISITE COLLECTION:Visitors at 'Shilpakala', a handicrafts exhibition, which began in Mangalore on Friday.

MANGALORE: People, especially youth, who like colourful accessories and sport trendy, matching jewellery, may like to visit “Shilpakala”, a 10-day handicrafts exhibition that began in the city on Friday.

Inaugurated by Mangalore Mayor Praveen, the exhibition has 60 stalls selling various accessories that can be used everyday. For instance, there are attractive key chains, starting at Rs. 20, they can also be used to attach to mobile phones to quickly identify phones, especially when it is kept amidst clutter. There are anklets and bracelets made of shells, mirrors, beads, brightly-coloured threads, and buttons. They all quickly add a dash of colour to any outfit or object. Three or four stalls are hawking several such objects.

Those who like to sport inexpensive jewellery that matches their clothes can try “customised jewellery”. Bobby, a craftsperson, says he can put together jewellery, on the spot, to match the colour combination of the customer's clothes.

There is a range of traditional jewellery with a contemporary touch. “Meenakari” appears in new colours and designs. A pair of earrings cost Rs. 200. Dori Lal, a craftsman from Uttar Pradesh, showed a foldable, wooden chessboard, which can store coins within, priced at Rs. 250.

The handmade textiles available at the exhibition included prints such as “bagru” and “baagh”. Apart from the hand block-printed textiles, there is Pochampalli from Andhra Pradesh, “Patiala salwars” from Punjab, and Bengali cotton fabrics.

Narottam Devangan, a craftsperson, says he has brought “tussore” raw silk from Champa, Bilaspur, and Chhatisgarh.

Other stalls include products such as brass items and silver jewellery to carpets and textiles. “There are no two stalls with the same craft,” says M.S. Farook, Founder and Secretary, Umeia Handicrafts Association, a Channapatna-based NGO, which promotes handicrafts from all over India and which has organised the exhibition.

“We are expecting a good crowd, especially on the weekends,” he says. The NGO organises workshops for artisans and implements crafts schemes from the Development Commissioner, Handicrafts.

For those who like to browse through exhibition, the event, at Moti Mahal hotel, may be an interesting visit.

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