A slice of rural artisanship on display at ‘Namma Angadi’

Theatre director Prasanna (left) looking at the clay pottery items at Namma Angadi in Manipal.

A rural carnival-like atmosphere prevailed at the three-day ‘Namma Angadi’, exhibition and sale of handicrafts, handloom and eco-friendly products, which began at the School of Communication (SOC) here recently.

A slice of the best artisanship and craftsmanship from rural Coastal Karnataka was on display at the exhibition. The items were displayed in the open air auditorium and five classrooms of the SOC.

Items such as lamps, incense stands, plates and vases made of terracotta, earthen pots, bell metal products, clay jewellery, stone soap trays and decorative items made of eco-friendly materials, were exhibited.

Cotton garments for men, women and children, palm jaggery, pure wild honey, baskets and trays made out of bamboo, lavanche products, natural fertilizers, kokum nectar squash, pineapple ginger jam, hot sweet lemon pickle, hot sweet citron pickle, were on display.

A large number of people not just from Udupi and Manipal, but also Mangaluru, visited the exhibition on the very first day. Joan Fernandes, a homemaker from Mangaluru, said she was impressed by the items on display. “I am coming here for the first time. I like it very much. I feel tempted to buy many products,” she said.

Blanche Sequeira, a homemaker from Mangaluru, who too was visiting the event for the first time, said she had made up her mind to purchase clay pots and terracotta items.

Vimala Monteiro, from Mangaluru, said that she was visiting the exhibition for the third time as she liked it. “During the previous occasions, I came on the last day. But today, I have come on the first day,” she said.

The students, who are organising the event with the help of Concerned for Working Children, were straining every nerve to make all the visitors comfortable and encouraging them to purchase the products.

They were also conscious of the social impact of the event. Neha Nandakumar, a student of first BAJC, said, “We are not organising this event for marks. It makes us feel socially responsible.” Her friend Kavita Mallya said that it was essential to give opportunities to rural artisans to market their market their products and display their skills.