“I’ve got the test report,” exclaims a triumphant Rahul from Ooty’s Strawberry Fields, waving an envelope. “It’s export quality.” He’s talking about the strawberry wine that he’s selling at the ongoing Handmade Collective.
A partnership between Coimbatore’s Gourmet Bazaar and Bengaluru’s A Hundred Hands, the exhibition has filled the grounds of Whispering Stones with a myriad colours and flavours. Mala Dhawan of A Hundred Hands explains that the NGO is not just working to revive traditional crafts but is actively involving the younger generation of the craftspeople’s families to continue. The variety of products was eclectic, ranging from earthen and castiron cookware; handlooms like Chanderi, Maheshwari, Bandhini, Ajrakh, Kantha; Madhubani and Pattachitra art; bags of various kinds; quilted products to pappads , pickles and wooden puzzles and ceramics.
Asharam had a table full of wooden stuff but what caught my attention were the games. Chess boards and intricately carved chess men, tic tac toe boards and coins, mazes of various sizes.... He picked up what looked like a Rubik’s Cube. To my astonishment, he began unravelling it and soon displayed what looked a long rope of mini cubes. Deftly he put them back together to form the larger cube. Another spiky-looking ball turned out to be angles put together.
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Just as I turned from this stall, a young girl was calling to her friend to check out the bags at Suman’s stall. Woven from the fibres extracted from the water hyacinth, there were not just smart bags but also boxes and fine cane mats that can comfortably double up as carpets. The Gramya stall with bags made of banana fibre and Aarohana’s stylish and blingy totes made of recycled plastic products like flex banners and PET bottles were also worth a close look.
But this exhibition is not just about art and craft. It’s equally about food. Coimbatore’s Gourmet Bazaar has set up a Christmas Café in the open area. “We’re trying something new,” says Shikha Bagaria of the Gourmet Bazaar, pointing to the various seasonal favourites on offer. There is a carnival atmosphere on this side with stalls surrounding a big white tent that has been done up in reds and greens. Familiar names greet the eyes — Infusions Café, Soklet, Nuteva, Upper Crust, The French Door, Café Gluttony, Prana — offering a variety of eats and drinks ranging from pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, dips, chutneys, cold-pressed juices, brownies and desserts.
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A garden section at the entrance showcased a variety of plants from the Nilgiris and planters, terrariums and more from Kodaikanal. The Green Shop, an initiative of Last Forest, also had a stall with its organic honey and beeswax products.
By the time I exited, my head was whirling and I was grateful that I had managed not to make too large a dent in my wallet.
Info You can Use
Handmade Collective is on until December 9 from 10.30 am to 8.00 pm
On Saturday and Sunday, from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm, they have the Dirty Your Hands Section where children are encouraged to create by hand. The theme is conservation of water
At Whispering Stones, No 1, BRCF, Perks Arch Road, Uppilipalayam
Call 9845008482 or 9880714405 for details