About 70 artistes from all over India have displayed their exquisite artefacts at the Thiruvananthapuram Crafts Carnival’ being held at the Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds in the capital.
Organised by the Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala to provide weavers and crafts persons from across the country an opportunity to directly sell their products, the exhibition is also an opportunity for lovers of handcrafted knick-knack and woven material to buy such products at low prices.
The exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts, handloom clothes and jewellery is on up to October 31.
Decorative crafts items such as flower sets, birds and fish, with prices ranging from Rs. 350 to Rs. 2,500, has been drawing particular attention at the fair.
Prizes won“My craft has won me many prizes, but there are not many who work in this field and this craft is on the verge of extinction,” said Gopinathan, who has been fashioning exquisite products out of buffalo horn.
Elegant furniture including table, chair, teapot, computer table, dressing table and mirror frame in various designs made of mahogany, teak and rosewood have been brought from Thrissur for display at the carnival.
These items are priced between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 3 lakh.
Furniture made using ‘sheesham’ wood from Uttar Pradesh, embroidered and cross-stitched bedspreads and table cover from Tamil Nadu, terracotta- made decorative earthen lamps, framed digital prints of mural painting, Pattachitra and Dokra crafts from Odisha are some of the home decorative items on display.
Kairali, the outlet of the Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala, showcases artefacts such as Arumula kannadi and products made of coconut shells, straw, wall hangings.
The fancy jewellery made of bamboo, semi-precious stones, crystals and silver mixed are also on display. An extensive range of Balaramapuram handloom items, Matta, Jamdani and Baluchari sarees from West Bengal, Khadi, cotton and silk kurtis and shirts from Uttar Pradesh; hand block printed sarees of Rajasthan and silk sarees from Hyderabad are also on display and sale.
Ayurvedic and herbal products and Nilgiri products such as honey, spices and dry fruits are also on view and sale at the carnival.
