The Kalakshetra campus is vibrant with actvity. The crowds weave through stalls, set against the backdrop of folk music and traditional dance performances. Each counter has something special at the ninth edition of Sampoorn Santhe, the 10-day arts and crafts festival — textiles, jewellery, accessories, ready-mades and home furnishings, with the upcoming festivities in mind.
If you are looking for ways to celebrate a pollution-free Deepavali, head to the ecoCARA counter, where you can find agals(earthen lamps) made of cow dung. “These agal s are made of cow dung and leave no toxic residues,” says ecoCARA’s Supriya S. A box of 12 agal s cost ₹96. She also stocks cold pressed oils, ghee and hand-crafted jewellery. NIT graduates Rutul and Ronak Shah are back this year with their bird-themed hangings, bird stands and table top decorative items. “The birds are made of ceramic, we do the details with paint and fire it. Sometimes where intricate detailing is required, we fire it a second time after repainting it, in order to get the desired effect,” says Ronak.
Those interested in fabrics can check out Ajay Jha’s collection of organic cotton off-white saris with madhubani hand painting and silk dupattas. “The unique aspect is that no two sari/dupatta are of a similar design. Each has a free hand drawing by artists, making it each a distinct piece,” says Ajay. You can also try Maheswari dupattas with batik prints from Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh.
Dharmapuri-based Buriya which works for the upliftment of Lambadi tribes, has a range of saris, kurtis, blouses, kids wear and home furnishings. Says founder D Babu, “We specialise in Lambadi embroidery and also customise products with Lambadi work based on orders.”
For kids, Chennai-based Rekha’s Regalia brings a collection of ethnic wear in cottons and silk. Also attracting a good number of customers are long skirts from Jaipur made of soft cotton and ikat — black and indigo seem to be trending this season. The fair holds a good range of costume jewellery at pocket friendly prices. Delhi-based Desi Pop is here for the first time, showcasing their canvas bags, pouches, laptop cases and bags that come in vibrant digital prints. Don’t miss the hand-crafted footware by Chawla Studio, Punjab. The collection is made of camel leather and block-printed cotton fabric. You can meet artist Krishnaprasad V Martand, from Gulbarga, Karnataka, who is creating ink and paper ‘Line art’ of abstract nature at the fair. Art aside, the bazaar also features traditional food. Finally, be sure to catch the puppetry show bytribal artists from Rajasthan, being held each day.
Santhe is on at Kalakshetra Foundation, Thiruvanmiyur, till October 20, 11 am to 7.30 pm. Call 9845597553.
