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Pick up some exquisite cotton and silk saris or snazzy stoles. Or would you fancy the razai this winter at Harshakala, the National Handloom expo?
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Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
HANDLOOM HARMONY Saris galore at Harshakala 2005
Someone give Bangalore a break. Exhibitions are far too many in the city right now. They are fanning and feeding a shopping frenzy we Bangaloreans are known for, anyways! Purses are running empty, but enthusiasm isn't. So the coffers seem to fill up somehow again for yet another bout of encouraging traditional art.
Harshakala, the National Handloom Expo 2005, is a constant annual affair now. With this year's theme celebrating "Weaves and Motifs", the exhibition opens out to the visitor with a pavilion that displays many different varieties of saris — the Molakalmuru, the muga silk, the Korvai silk, the telia rumal, block-printed silk, and the eternal Kanjeevaram and many more.
Kashmir seems to have a very large representation at the Harshakala. At every corner you turn, there is a Kashmir handicrafts stall selling beautiful stoles, traditionally embroidered kurtas and dress materials, Pashmina shawls and of course, carpets. Stoles being the rage, young girls are flocking to the fancy.
And when an exhibition highlights the handloom weave, the toast of the season has to be the sari. A lot of cooperatives have turned up with cottons, pure silks, polycots, tussars, organza, and more. Traditional looks jostle for space with the more modern and uber-chic designs. Take Bengal for example. The traditional intricate hand-worked kantha embroidery with scintillatingly elaborate pallavs are quite popular and in demand. But the more modern striped silks with plain borders in yellows and blacks or the block-printed contemporary motifs and geometric patterns on earthy silks and black-and-white combos are also attracting much attention.
At many of the stalls you can meet the weavers or artists themselves, who have ventured to Bangalore to represent their cooperative. Many also represent state government emporiums. Wholesalers have interesting prices to offer on some of their products.
Home accessories form another large chunk of the exhibition. Bed covers and spreads, diwan sets, the Dilli Haat characterised colourful sheets, readymade curtains, pillowcases, cushion covers, span the home sector. Look out for the Kalamkari-print bedsheets. Traditional dhurries are another good buy here for the winter. Whether it's the wholesome kambli from Gulbarga or the stuffed razai from Rajasthan and Gujarat, it's a heart-warming sight.
The telia rumal saris, the Sambhalpuris, and the ikats vie for the attention of the one in search of ethnic chic. Lots of traditional children's wear too. The Benaras silk stall, traditional silks from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh is a silk collector's delight.
At the end of the day, who doesn't love a good bargain? Ultimately, youngsters flock eagerly to the readymade counters hoping to find some everyday-wear. Kurtas long and short — in khadi, cotton and chiffons top such lists.
At the end of the day, you'll find everything from a six by six hand towel to carpets that go wall-to-wall. Knick-knacks and accessories are also aplenty.
The exhibition may not be phenomenally different from what exhibitions usually are — regulars on the circuit will know what I mean. But after all, yeh dil maangey more, you know. So you'll surely uncover something you want.
The exhibition is on till January 15 at Palace Grounds, entrance from first gate, near Mekhri Circle, Palace Road. Timings: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
BHUMIKA K.
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