It’s the season of shopping and yet another exhibition has reached the city – Dastkar Mela. The fair, organised by Pushpanjali Khadi Gramodhyog Sansthan from Hapur district in Uttar Pradesh, at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium offers a wide spectrum of craft items from across the country. Products from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are available at the fair making it a real treat for shopaholics.
“This is our first in Kerala. Some of the artisans who are with us have come here before with other societies. We focus on handmade products, be it fabric, jewellery or curios, and therefore the name Dastkar, which means ‘one who makes items using the hand’,” says Rajesh, a member of Pushpanjali.
Ravindar Kumar from Delhi has a range of cushion covers, pillow covers and bed sheets with patch work. While floral motifs adorn most of the pieces, there are covers and sheets with figures of cartoon characters. Prices start from Rs. 180. Atul Arora, also a Delhiite, has showcased jewellery that makes use of thread, wood, glass and stones and terracotta work. “These products come from Vishwas Sewak Society. We have chains, bangles, bracelets and earrings. Curtains with wooden beads are ideal for warm climates,” he says. Each piece costs Rs. 30.
Nalin Kumar from Gujarat has Khadi kurtas for women in several earthy shades. “This product, from Porbunder, ought to be new for the city,” he says. While these kurtas are priced at Rs. 300, short tops cost Rs. 250.
Also at the exhibition are alluring Bhagalpur silk saris, dress material, dupattas and unstitched material that vie for your attention alongside colourful kurtas and kurtis from Gujarat, Bengal cotton saris in myriad shades, Mangalgiri dress materials and saris from Assam. Among the jewellery, you can choose from one- gram gold ornaments from Coimbatore, gold-plated jewellery from Mumbai and glass jewellery from Uttar Pradesh, among others.
Saharanpur wood items, colourful Khurja ceramic pottery from Uttar Pradesh, Patachitra paintings from Orissa and Tirupur cotton products are also available. The sale ends on September 15. Time : 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
