From Rajasthani savories, to camel leather shoes, silk quilts to ceramic planters, this mela has it all. The Rajasthan Grameen Mela, which began at the Srinivasa Kalyana Mantapa in Jayanagar here on July 28 has a large variety of handloom and handicrafts products on display.
For handloom admirers, there is a wide range of clothing such as the famous Pashmina and rabbit wool shawls from Kashmir, Lucknow chikan work kurtas and dress materials, classy Dhaka muslin sarees, the gorgeous Rajasthani mirror work bedspreads, ghagra cholis and pure khadi kurtas, traditional kids wear from Gujarat, kosha silk and Bhagalpur jute saris, vegetable paint dyed and kantha work garments and cotton sarees from Kolkata and Orissa, Kalamkari dress materials from Pochampally and so on. Sudhir Sharma, one of the participants, said: “We are exhibiting our products in Bengaluru after a year; every product is handmade and involves great effort”.
With shops displaying a variety of traditional products from different states of the country, it is a pleasure to the eyes. “It is my third visit to this exhibition. I am thrilled with all these products from different states and have already purchased a variety of items, yet I want to shop more!” says Chaitra R.K., a homemaker.
The handicraft section displays a variety of products such as the eye catching earrings, wooden, ceramic and metal products as well as Meenakari traditional jewellery from Rajasthan, the famous Madhubani paintings of Bihar, Chennapattana toys and home décor items from Meerut, famous brass work décor products from Moradabad and carpets from Saharanpur.
Special jewellery stalls have been set up for the Varamahalakshmi festival where one-gram gold ornaments such as bangles, necklaces etc. are on discount. This is an added attraction and people are keen on availing the offers to the full this festive season. “This is my first visit to India and I have come with my husband to this Mela for the first time. I am mesmerised by the silks, jewellery and the entire colourful spread,” says Anna Chapman, a radiologist from California. The exhibition will conclude on August 15.
