Sargotsav 2014, the annual handicrafts extravaganza of the Sargalaya Arts Village at Iringal, concluded on Tuesday amidst massive fanfare.
The 10-day crafts festival saw overwhelming response from people in and around Kozhikode district swarming the picturesque crafts village and taking part in the festivities that included exhibition of exquisite craft pieces from all over the country. A variety of cultural activities like folk dance forms from various north Indian states and Tamil Nadu were also staged.
The timing of the festival, during the Christmas school break, was partially responsible for the increased turnout for the festival compared to the previous years.
Sargalaya, in the short span since it started, has found its place in the Golden Dozen of the Department of Tourism as one of the must-visit locations in the State. The village, though a venture of the Department of Tourism, is maintained by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society.
The fair featured a wide variety of craft products like glass artefacts from Jaipur, steel-Meenakari utensils from Rajasthan, variety jewellery in coconut shell, jute, terracotta, tribal jewellery, wood-etched pieces from Tamil Nadu, wooden carvings, cane and leather bags, footwear, Shantiniketan leather products, brass products with Meenakari work, incensed and decorated candles, ceramic products, jute bags and decorations, antique lamp shades, embroidered and appliqué wall hangings, clay murals from Nilambur, and grass curtains.
Different types of paintings like Gond, Patachitras, and Kerala murals, traditional textiles died in natural colours, batik printed, embroidered and painted ones, with zari and zardosi work, appliqué, and quilted bed spreads and cushion covers were also available.
The fair featured the works of national-award winners like Suman Sonthalia (terracotta), Nandu Sharma, Kalyan Sahoo (Pichwai paintings), and Robert Cisil (shadow embroidery).
The massive turn out for the crafts fair and the cultural programmes in the evenings translated into increased sales for the more than 200 craftsmen who had come from different States with their works.
