As natural, colourful and traditional as always! The Dastkari Mela at Dilli Haat this time is a celebration of South Asian women and their craft.
Like every year, this year too the Dastkari Mela brings handicraft items from each State of India. Aimed at empowering women and exhibiting the multifarious uses of natural fibres and substances, the mela aims to work towards the ‘socio-economic transformation' of women working in this sector.
Apart from those from India, works from the women of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka also find space here. For kids, there are paper toys and bioscope, sure to remind you of your own childhood.
Significantly, they are reasonably priced. For your kitchen and home there are name plates, wall hangings, mirrors, cups and glasses. They are all made of recycled paper. There are lamp shades made of bottlegourd, Jaipuri saris, bedsheets, handmade shawls and woollens too. Terracotta and baked clay have been moulded to shapely wall clock, aesthetic vases, pretty necklaces and earrings. Made of natural fibres and recycled material items of daily use like bags, purses, pencil cases, photo frames can also be found here. The items are priced between Rs.10 and 90,000.
Says Jaya Jaitly, founder of Dilli Hatt, “Keeping in mind the environmental concerns, Copenhagen discussions and sustainable development for these women, we have focused on things made of natural fibres.”
This exhibition concludes on January 7.
