This one should please not just shopaholics, but also those who would like to go shopping once in a while. For, Hasthashilpotsavam - Craft Bazaar 2008, currently on at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, has options aplenty, in the form of dress materials, sarees, handicraft items, readymades, footwear, furnishings, furniture, jewellery, dry flower arrangements and much more.
Variety is the hallmark of this exhibition, which has been organised by the Kerala Rural Development Agency (KRDA) with the support of the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
As in the other exhibitions, this one also has products made of ramacham, kacholam, bamboo, banana fiber and screw pine. The bamboo products have been brought by Sukrutha society from Mananthavadi. ‘‘The special item we have is bamboo rice,’’ said a staff at the stall. Another interesting item is a bamboo stick which has wicks on it using which you can apply oil on the doas pan.
Also, there is a unique agarbathi stand, priced Rs 50. You can keep the lighted agarbathis on a stand and then close it with an outer cover, which has small holes through which the smoke will come out. The ash will fall inside only.
Coconut shell products made by sex workers and HIV-infected people under the banner of Snehatheeram have been kept for sale. ‘‘These people have been rehabilitated and trained jointly by the Kerala State AIDS Control Society and KRDA,’’ said Sajeev, cluster manager of Ambedkar Hasthashilpa Vikas Yojana.
Shameem of Palluruthy in Ernakulam has brought some interesting items. He has made wine jar and uri using whole coconuts! And one would definitely fall for an item made of rosewood, which can be used as a fruit tray, CD rack, lamp shade, money plant and telephone stand. It comes in the price range Rs 190 - 240.
The screw pine products, nearly 150 of them, have been made by KDRA.
Then there is Gopinathan from the city who has brought products made of buffalo horn and ox horn. ‘‘I get these horns from Thirunelveli,’’ said Gopinathan, who had won honours at the Crafts Bazaar held as part of the Swadeshi Science Movement in Ernakulam in 2006.
The exhibition has a few other award winners. Like Harish from Tamil Nadu who won the state award for his tribal jewellery designs in semi precious stones. Harish, who exports his products, has brought a tempting jewellery collection here. Like earrings, bracelets and chains with Italian glass beads. He even makes all these items on the spot, as per the customers’ wish.
Shankar Paul and wife Supriya Paul from Kolkata are the other state award winners - for their sarees and dress items with kantha work. The couple who runs a boutique back home has cotton and silk sarees with intricate designs.
Also, there is a unique agarbathi stand, priced Rs 50. You can keep the lighted agarbathis on a stand and then close it with an outer cover, which has small holes through which the smoke will come out. The ash will fall inside only.
Coconut shell products made by sex workers and HIV-infected people under the banner of Snehatheeram have been kept for sale. ‘‘These people have been rehabilitated and trained jointly by the Kerala State AIDS Control Society and KRDA,’’ said Sajeev, cluster manager of Ambedkar Hasthashilpa Vikas Yojana.
Shameem of Palluruthy in Ernakulam has brought some interesting items. He has made wine jar and uri using whole coconuts! And one would definitely fall for an item made of rosewood, which can be used as a fruit tray, CD rack, lamp shade, money plant and telephone stand. It comes in the price range Rs 190 - 240.
The screw pine products, nearly 150 of them, have been made by KDRA.
Then there is Gopinathan from the city who has brought products made of buffalo horn and ox horn. ‘‘I get these horns from Thirunelveli,’’ said Gopinathan, who had won honours at the Crafts Bazaar held as part of the Swadeshi Science Movement in Ernakulam in 2006.
The exhibition has a few other award winners. Like Harish from Tamil Nadu who won the state award for his tribal jewellery designs in semi precious stones. Harish, who exports his products, has brought a tempting jewellery collection here. Like earrings, bracelets and chains with Italian glass beads. He even makes all these items on the spot, as per the customers’ wish.
Shankar Paul and wife Supriya Paul from Kolkata are the other state award winners - for their sarees and dress items with kantha work. The couple who runs a boutique back home has cotton and silk sarees with intricate designs.
‘‘Hum yahan bahut ummeed leke aaye hain...’’ (We have come here with lot of expectations), said S N Kapoor. Well, the salwar materials he has spread out ought to fetch him some good response. Especially the party wear salwar suit using 60 gm crepe cloth.Brass items with meenakari work are splendid works of art. You will find pairs of deer, bells, bowls, clocks and small plates with the captivating meenakari work, brought by H M Sajid of Muradabad.
Then there is a splendid collection of sarees and dress materials from Hubli in Karnataka brought by Bharati Wali. ‘‘These sarees have the traditional kasuti work,’’ she said.
Products made of banana fibre from Marthandam and sea shells from Kanyakumari too are available. Colourful bunch of dry flowers from Nagaland, bedsheets from Ghaziabad, dress materials with chikan work from Lucknow, Pochampally sarees, Kashmiri dress materials and Benares silk cushion covers and bed covers form the other items spread out.
Then there is a splendid collection of sarees and dress materials from Hubli in Karnataka brought by Bharati Wali. ‘‘These sarees have the traditional kasuti work,’’ she said.
Products made of banana fibre from Marthandam and sea shells from Kanyakumari too are available. Colourful bunch of dry flowers from Nagaland, bedsheets from Ghaziabad, dress materials with chikan work from Lucknow, Pochampally sarees, Kashmiri dress materials and Benares silk cushion covers and bed covers form the other items spread out.
