An enchanting collection of handicrafts and handlooms await festive shoppers at the ‘Crafts Bazaar’ being organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation at TTD Kalyanamandapam at MVP Colony. Stalls from the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are participating in the exhibition.
The exhibition is being supported by the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Speaking about the ‘Crafts Bazaar’, K. Balasubramanyam, manager, North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation, said more than 70 craftsmen had brought furniture, handicrafts, saris, kurtas, wall hangings, interior décor items, paintings, bags and jewellery for sale.
Cane and bamboo crafts, wood carving, brass and bell metal artefacts, basketry which were some of the traditional crafts of the North Eastern region find a place here. One of the highlights of the ‘Crafts Bazzar’ is a stone from Manipur with ‘Longpi’ stone pottery. Traditionally called ‘Loree Hamlei’, these are characteristic gray-black cooking pots, tea kettles, mugs and bowls that are used by the Tangkhul Naga tribe of village in Manipur. “This material is called weather rock and serpentinite. These pots can be used for cooking over gas stove and are microwave friendly,” said Presley Ngasainao, the stall owner. Longpi cookware has gained popularity all over India and is being supplied to niche craft stores like the Tribes of India across the country and even abroad. These pots, interestingly, are not crafted on a potter’s wheel. “Every item is shaped by hand with the help of moulds and tools. Once the shaped clay dries and is hard enough, it is taken to an open bonfire and heated for couple of hours at temperatures over 1200 degrees centigrade,” she added.
The exhibition will be on till January 24 from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m.
