With public showing much interest on interior decoration the demand for handicrafts has been increasing, say the artisans who displayed their products in the Crafts Fair. Artisans from Nagaland, Assam, Meghayala, Manipur, Mizoram and other North Eastern states arranged stalls in the ongoing North Eastern Handicrafts Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDCL) exhibition ‘Purbhashree’ at Sri Vidya Sadan.
Several varieties of bamboo, jute, cane, wooden and paper products were exhibited in the expo. Besides, garments, brass decorative articles, Assam tea products, sandal perfumes, oils, wall hangings, wooden carvings, incense sticks and other material were kept for sale at ‘Purbhasree’. “We collect bamboo from the nearby forests. The entire family is engaged in preparing decorative material with bamboos. The demand for handicrafts material is good as many people are giving importance for interior decoration,” says Givit, a native of Deemapur village in Assam.
“Mats, handbags, hats, wallets, chappals, wall hangings, curtains, baskets and other materials made of sheetal patti (cane) are having good sales in the exhibition. We bring the raw material, weave them and put stitches wherever necessary,” said Dilip Nandi, of Dimpul village in Manipur.
NEHHDCL Deputy Manager B.K. Dey of Kolkata said instead of using synthetic and plastic material, people should decorate houses with cane, jute and wooden products which keep the home cool and maintain ecology. “The corporation is sensitising the visitors on the use of the decorative material made of forest produce, which also encourage artisans. The response for ‘Purbhashree Exhibition,’ is good”, said Mr. Dey.
