A blend of colourful diyas and artworks by differently-abled children and fine Indian fabrics like Chanderi and leather bags from Shantiniketan are all part of a crafts bazaar which opened here today ahead of Diwali.
"I am happy to see this crafts bazaar and I think it enhances our culture. I will only tell the artisans to embrace modernity but not to veer away from our traditional handicraft styles," Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said.
She was inaugurating a three-day women artisans' crafts bazaar, 'Shilpkala Utsav', at the Aga Khan Hall here. The fair is being organised by the All India Women's Conference (AIWC).
Some 50-odd stalls have been put up by AIWC free of cost to promote artisans and handicrafts from around the country.
AIWC President Bina Jain said the fair was as an opportunity to "help our sisters".
"Stalls like 'Humari Udaan' display diyas done by differently-abled girls... We are very happy and proud of that," she said.
"There is no commercial motive behind the event. AIWC's aim since its inception in the 1920s has been to only empower women and prepare them to earn their livelihood. At this bazaar, we are also promoting NGOs and state and nationally awarded artisans, among others," Jain said.
A separate room at the fair has been allotted to the Air Force Wives' Welfare Association (AFWWA) which features some 10 or so stalls put up by representatives from different Commands across the country. One of the stalls displayed artwork by mentally-challenged students from Air Force's 'Umeed' centre situated at Subroto Park of Delhi Cantonment.
Soon after the opening, visitors were seen at the stalls, browsing items like Bihar's papier mache artefacts, Chanderi, kantha stitches, meenakari, kalamkari design fabrics, block prints, Kota doria, Mirzapur carpets and durries, Shantinektan leather bags, Kashmiri shawls, polystone dots statuettes, among others.
The first 'Shilpkala Utsav' was held in 2001, but the fair was suspended for a few years in between before being revived last year, said event coordinator, Ritu Singhal.
