The great Indian bazaar

Handicrafts are a way of preserving traditional art and maps a society’s aesthetic evolution. The Arts and Crafts Exhibition at Bengaluru’s Chitrakala Parishad displayed an overwhelming range of objets d’art by artisans hailing from di erent parts of the country.

Raksha Arun

It was like walking into a mini-India show. Artisans and weavers from all over had spread out their creations -- furniture, tribal prints, crockery, home décor, jewellery, and all at affordable prices.

Visitors at the exhibition were mesmerised by the range of arts and crafts displayed. Appreciating the work and efforts behind each piece of art, the buyers did not wish to bargain.

Chaya Nisarga is an organisation that manufactures board games, wooden puzzles, educational toys, lamps and artefacts for interior decor. They make these items with self-help groups. MITU (Multiple Initiatives Towards Upliftment) was selling jewellery, purses, and bags. The sales money is being used for helping women who do not have access to hygienic menstruation products.

On display were stalls from different states.

kat from Odisha

Ikat fabric is a dyeing technique which adds an apparent blurriness to These designs require extreme skill and hard work on the part of the weaver. Different types of ikat fabrics such as warp, weft and double ikat were available.

Dohars from Rajasthan

Dohars are made from beautiful soft mul mul fabric which are extremely comfortable and cosy accompaniments for blankets and quilts in winters. Cotton cambric quilts, ethnic Rajasthani dohars, warmers and bed linen made from the finest cottons and silks were being sold.

Silk from Kashmir

A wide range of products in silk textile designs were on sale. These weaves exclusively use silk yarns to create chinon and crepe de chine. Weavers hailing from the beauteous valley of Kashmir displayed silk carpets, rugs and mats which had a very soft and luxurious feel. They are great for decorating homes and can make any room look alluring. Kashmiri silk is handmade and hand knotted. Designs such as flower motifs, branches, leaves, and ancient war scenes are depicted on these silks.

Hand weaving from Himachal Pradesh

For an Indian, there is nothing more comforting than wrapping oneself in a soft warm shawl to keep warm in winters. A shawl can be draped handsomely over a sari or an evening gown. Men can wear it as a throw with a kurta.

Yellow marble from Fatehpur Sikri

Jaisalmer yellow marble is loved by homeowners and architects for its natural yellow-orange texture. It comes up in stunning shades of yellows making it a classy choice for home and office.

Pattachitra painting - Bengal / Odisha Pattachitra is the art of cloth-based scroll painting, practised in the eastern Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal. It is known for its intricate detailing which has been influenced by Mughal miniture art. The mythological narratives and folktales inscribed on them have cultural themes.

Santiniketan from Kolkata

Leather products made in Santiniketan and surrounding villages near Kolkata are known as Shantineketan arts. The material used is vegetable tanned leather (sheepskin or goatskin) with art work done by touch dyeing. Its artistic leather bags are popular in foreign markets and are exported to many countries including Japan and the US. The products manufactured are coin bags, chappals, handbags, pouches, jewellery boxes, pencil boxes, eyeglass covers, bags, cushion covers, sandals, wallets, and more.

Madhubani from Bihar

Madhubani is a style of Indian painting, practised in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is characterised by its eye-catching geometrical patterns. Natural dye and colours are used in the creation of Madhubani artworks with geometrical figures and vibrant colours being key elements.

River grass mat from Tamil Nadu

River grass mats give coolness to the human body and is eco-friendly. These mats are used as floor mats, yoga mats or even as a travelling bed. These are made from long grass and cotton twines.