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Handicrafts galore

The Crafts Festival at Sri Seshadri Swamigal Mahal aims to help craftspersons improve their lot

PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

INTRICATE WORK In plenty

While most of us look at an exhibition only as a form of entertainment, for the craftspersons involved it is much more than that.

For them, it is a fervent and often a desperate hope that their work gets noticed and they can earn more than they are doing now. Something the Crafts Festival, an exhibition and demonstration on till January 15, hopes to do. Though the invite says that it is a festival of handicrafts from the North East, other states from the length and breadth of the country have also taken part in it. Forty artisans from all over have congregated at Sri Seshadri Swamigal Mahal to showcase their crafts.

Ethnic baskets

The bamboo baskets and cane furniture, simple as they look, are the fruit of a difficult process. "The bamboos are first dried in the sun and then specially treated before being woven into beautiful handicrafts. It is a lot of hard work," says Jamurudeen, one of the artisans. Hand woven textiles like shawls and dupattas from the North East also catch the eye with their traditional weaves and colours.

Other handicrafts include tie and dye textiles and mirror work from Gujarat, Kantha and Baluchari work from Bengal, cotton durries, chicken embroidery from Barabanki, cotton sarees from Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh and khadi and raw silk. Bengal cotton sarees range from Rs. 480 to Rs. 3,000 while salwar kameez sets are available for as low as Rs. 200. Bed sheets with Rajasthani prints and vegetable dyes are priced anywhere between Rs. 120 and Rs. 480.

Handicrafts include jute shoes and bags, cane chairs from Assam, bamboo mugs, cane lampshades wall decorations, magazine and newspaper holders. Stone carvings, lacquer ware, metal ware, purses and bags in leather, traditional paintings, `zardosi' craft and rosewood inlay work from Karnataka are on display too.

Stone sculptures

Sculptures made from soft stone come in all sizes. The curd bowl, which can preserve curd for up to two days is particularly attractive. You can also choose from agarbathi stands, stone lamps and grinding stones. Metal lamps and statues made from German silver and bronze are available for Rs. 1,000 and upwards. For those who love dressing up, there are earrings, chains, bracelets and bangles galore, both semi-precious as well as imitation jewellery.

The exhibition has been organised by the Chennai branch of North Eastern Handicrafts, Purbashree, and its aim is to improve the lot of the craftspersons and provide them with a platform to exchange ideas and upgrade their skills. The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Union Ministry of Textiles has sponsored the event. The exhibition is on from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

J. MEERA & KEERTHI MOHAN

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