Part haat, part souk, bursting with ‘all the treasures of Hindustan’, the exciting Crafts Bazaar is back, bringing with it the mounting anticipation of the city’s denizens.
The vast colonnaded stone hall of Valluvarkottam will come alive with colourful weaves and textures, stone, wood and metal crafts, the magic of dhokraware, minakari and silver filigree, embroidery and lace paintings, gourd, seed and paper craft, grass and mud artefacts and much more.
Sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and organised by the Crafts Council of India, with more than 150 artisans participating, Crafts Bazaar 2011 is more than just a large collection of innovative and quality hand products. It represents a culture that is natural, has low carbon footprints, and given sustainable livelihood to millions. And it reflects the country’s rich artistic heritage.
Crafts Bazaar has exquisite and rarely seen products on display. Take, for example, the exotic and finely etched metal flowers, pretty embroidered and Bruges lace hand-made only in Tamil Nadu’s convents; or zari embroidered jhuttis and handbags, cane and bamboo objet d’art and mud tiles with rural impressions from Rajasthan. Every item represents a healthy crafts tradition.
One can also pick up superbly handcrafted silver filigree lamps from Orissa, copper bells and cockle shell jewellery,
Bodo and other weaves from the North East, vegetable dyed fabrics, banana fibre bags, dhurries, Jaipur’s famous blue pottery, grass mats and screens that make cool interior statements. To liven up interiors, one can choose from Madhubani, Phad, Cherial and mural art wall hangings.
There’s a wide variety in the saris section -- Paitani, Pochampalli, Maheswari, Sambhalpuri ikat, bandini, Chanderi, Kota, Jamdani and gadhwal embellished with kutchi, kasuti, kanchi, chikan or block prints.
Among the participating artisans there’s a Padmashri winner as well as many State and National awardees, who have come from remote corners of the country.
Sabita Nandi from Nalainganj district, Balasore, Orissa, works with a group to make knick knacks from sabai grass which grows in fields there. “It has a lovely fresh smell! After soaking it, we dry the grass and then convert it into boxes, trays and runners, by hand. We also make terracotta dolls, animals and toys and then use lacquer paint on them.”
Paramparik artisan Bhaira Ram of Pokhran (near Jaisalmer) is excited about coming to Chennai with his delicate flowerpots, urns, magic lamps and a variety of diyas. But his specialty is the one ft. by one ft. terracotta tiles which have charming images of flowers, animals and scenes of rural life “I bring the mitti (earth) of Rajasthan to Chennai,” he says with a smile.
Ram Soni, also from Rajasthan, is the inheritor of the centuries-old-temple craft of Sanjhi. It originated in the temples of Brindavan, says Soni, where jhankis or vignettes of Krishna’s life were created using stencils and coloured powder. Says Soni, “I’ve brought many hand crafted stencils… these can be used as rangoli patterns. I’ve also brought framed stencils sandwiched between two sheets of glass featuring Krishna Leela, flowers, tree of life and geometric patterns.” His frames are incredibly delicate.
Abdul Sattar from Kutch handcrafts enormous copper bells entirely by hand. “After shaping the bell, I fuse it on wood fire and then finally put the music in. This requires 110-200 trial runs!”
Master artisan Ishwaradu with his kalamkari saris spattered with nargis and roses, National Awardee Jayanta Kumar Meher with his intricate tussar silk paintings, Padma Kumari’s Toda embroidered products and gypsy beads… meet them all at Crafts Bazaar, which opens today (September 23) at 5.30 p.m. at Valluvar Kottam, Nungambakkam High Road. On till October 4.
