The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Crafts fair opens at Poompuhar

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Friday, Jun 05, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Crafts fair opens at Poompuhar

Special Correspondent

From costume jewellery to beaded bags, there is plenty to splurge on

— PHOTO: S. THANTHONI

CYNOSURE: Hand-embroidered silk saris from Dharwad, Karnataka, are an attraction at the crafts fair that opened at the Poompuhar showroom on Anna Salai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: From costume jewellery to beaded bags, wall hangers and rudraksha necklaces, there is plenty to splurge on at the Poompuhar showroom, Anna Salai.

An exhibition of crafts from 14 States that was inaugurated there on Thursday provides the visitor a glimpse into the hard work of artisans, many of whom spend hours crafting beautiful products for household use.

On display are Panchaloha jewellery electroplated with gold from Coimbatore, and Kundan-style jewellery popularised by Bollywood films.

The Kondapalli toys from Andhra Pradesh and the exquisite Kasuti embroidery work, typical of the Chalukya period in Karnataka, are juxtaposed with finely hand-embroidered and stone-embellished silk saris.

Maheshwari saris from Madhya Pradesh and Tussar silk saris from Jharkhand under a scheme to promote tribal art by the Union government are also showcased.

Hari Narayan Sharma of Jaipur, who has been coming to Chennai for the past decade and who specialises in reproducing Ravi Varma’s works besides Mughal-style miniature paintings, knows what customers will seek.

“In the south Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings sell faster. Other smaller paintings that are priced Rs. 200 or more will sell more quickly,” he says. He also specialises in freestyle painting on black velvet.

Gold-electroplated fruit bowls and plates from Moradabad also vie for the visitors’ attention. Officials of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation said that they expect their 15 stalls at the exhibition to do a business of Rs. 8 lakh to 10 lakh.

The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until June 17, including on Sundays.

A discount of 10 per cent is offered on all items at the exhibition.

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