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Shopper’s stop The Gujarati fair is on till February 27

As one enters the fair ground, one sees men carving statues in various shapes and sizes. A puppet show will definitely be a welcome treat for children as puppeteers narrate tales from Gujarati folk tales. Those who want to try their hand at putting up a play can pick up a couple of these traditionally-garbed puppets that are on sale at the venue.

Stalls selling the best of ware from Gujarat and the surrounding states tempt customers with their wide variety of garments and handicrafts. However, it is the stalls demonstrating the tricks in making certain crafts that seem to be pulling in a crowd.

Want to make exquisite jewellery out of beads? No problem, the man behind the counter will teach you the right way to thread that rainbow-coloured necklace. Likewise are counters demonstrating the art of fine embroidery and Kalamkari. While the counter selling embroidered works such as cushion covers and kurtis shows visitors the art of interlacing those fine stitches, the Kalamkari counter has Ashokbhai Chitara demonstrating the fine strokes that go into the various works of art. His counter sells Kalamkari-worked bed sheets and pillowcases and Mata-ni-Pachedi.

Pointing at a delicately hand-painted hanging (Mata-ni-Pachedi), he says the hangings depict epics of the Mother Goddess. Tales of daily life, folklore and myths are cleverly interwoven in delicate shades of blue, green and rust red. Done in mural-like natural colours, it takes more than a week to complete a masterpiece, according to Ashokbhai.

Women planning to revamp their wardrobe can pick up kurtis in various designs and shades. Those who want to economise, can pick up a ‘Sunday-Monday’ outfit. A mirror-worked salwar-kameez, both the front and back necklines of the outfit is embellished with thread work and mirrors. “That way you can use both sides of the outfit,” says the vendor. Wrap-around skirts go well with the various tops on sale. Saris in various hues are available.

As accessories, come necklaces, pendants, earrings and bracelets to match that outfit you pick up. Leather, jute and cane-worked bags can complete that chic look. Men can take a look at the chiken-worked shirts that promise to breathe especially in summer. For children, come salwar-kameezs’ and ghagra-cholis in various sizes.

Those seeking to refurbish their house should check out the oven baked terracotta hangings in various motifs. Idols made from marble powder have a polished look to them.

Elegant wooden pieces, be it a five-legged stand made out of a single piece of wood or a ‘boat chair’ which is meant to keep your back straight will make excellent conversation pieces.

The fair, which is on till February 27, has something for every one and every pocket.

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