Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Exhibition draws visitors in droves

—PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM.

Choices galore: Visitors having a look at the handicrafts displayed at the exhibition at Poompuhar showroom in the city on Saturday.

TIRUCHI: The annual exhibition of the State-owned handicrafts enterprise, Poompuhar, has products catering to all classes of the society and for all ages. Colourful and vibrant, the exhibition has products ranging from wooden spoons for Rs.10 to a Panchaloha idol worth Rs. 60,000.

The handicrafts displayed include exquisite Thanjavur art plates and paintings, fragrant sandalwood show pieces, colourful Chennapatna toys, radium idols that glow in the night, and rosewood novelty carvings.

Benefitting artisans

The expo aims at benefitting artisans directly. Apart from the glittering items on display, non-stick cookware and other household knick-knacks like pen stands, keys and letter holders, portraits and wall hangings are a big hit among customers, said K.Chidambaram, manager of the Poompuhar showroom.

White cedar and marble-powder figurines of gods and goddess are preferred by customers to give as gifts. The exhibition, that has been organised for the past 15 years, has trendy terracotta products from Kolkata that include a Ganesa seated on a bench.

Wooden massagers with acupuncture techniques to relieve muscle pulls and blood clots are also displayed. The pricey Panchaloha idols are purchased for temples. “Recently an idol was purchased for a temple in Perambalur. Apart from that, foreigners and visiting NRIs purchase these idols to take it back for their antique value,” Mr.Chidambaram said.

Target

Adding that products worth Rs. 10 lakh are kept for sale, Mr.Chidambaram said, “We have set a target of Rs.4 lakh this year and have made sales worth Rs.40, 000 on the very first day.” Last year the exhibition had set a target of Rs. 3 lakh and exceeded the target by raking in Rs. 3.5 lakh. Poompuhar expects to cross the target this year as well. The expo was inaugurated on Friday by S. Kandasamy, general manager, District Industries Centre.

The items displayed at the expo, which is on till June 30, come with a 10 per cent discount.

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