Kolkata hosts week-long "Seven Sisters Weave" north east fair

In an endeavor to raise awareness about the northeast, which has a rich and vibrant culture, a week-long "Seven Sisters Weave" fair was recently held in Kolkata.

The fair was organized by the Weaver Studio of Kolkata with an aim of bringing exhibitors and artisans from the Northeast on one platform to showcase their rich handicrafts and handlooms.

The exhibitors benefit from the fair as they get to know customer demands, and the changes they need to make in their products, for markets in Kolkata and in other places.

Soni, an exhibitor from Nagaland, showcased a variety of products like bags, cushion covers, fabrics and Naga shawls. She was thrilled by the response of the people.

"Since "Weaver Studio" is very famous for the textile division and doing a lot for craftsmen so this is a good platform for us to showcase our products here. Nagaland has a rich culture and tradition and the people should know about it, such fair gives us an opportunity to bring our culture here," said Soni.

"We know about northeastern states but to bring their culture here is in the Weaver Studio is a big challenge for them. Due to bad communication they often can't reach to the northeastern states whereas the Northeast is very much part of India but to know about the tradition of is different thing. So, organizing such fair is to give them opportunity to make clients here that they can easily make contact with shops through which they can send their design for sale and exchange of the products," said Darshan Shah, an organiser of the Weaver Studio.

"This exhibition is not only a profit making venture but we would like to exhibit our rich culture and traditional attire of Nagaland also with bags and cushion cover with colourful Naga designs," said Kiniley, an exhibitor from Nagaland.

Many visitors thronged the venue and appreciated the products on display. During the fair, artists from Manipur performed dances like Raas leela, Lai haoraoba and Pung Cholom.

"This is a very exciting exhibition. I love the tradition of the Northeast. they have huge natural resources and craft knowledge, their designs have unique essence and I am looking for the sling bags and cushion covers which we do not get here because it was directly from weave which is very interesting and very thrilled to see ," added Sounak Chakraborty, a customer.

Such fairs not only bring the artisans into limelight, but also provide them a platform to reach out to a new market.