Art all the way

In an endeavour to promote Indian Handicrafts and Handlooms, Union Government had announced setting up of a Handicraft mega cluster in Kachchh. The mega cluster will focus on handcrafted items and craft based textiles. 

As a first step towards promoting crafts from this region, Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd, a PSU under Ministry of Textiles has planned to organise Kachchh Mahotsav, an exhibition cum sale of exclusive handloom and craft based textiles from the region in its showroom at Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan on Janpath.  

The exhibition was inaugurated by Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge), Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Water   Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India at on 17 October.

The exhibition focuses on Kachchh crafts from one of the most prolific regions of India such as  soof, mirror work, rabari, ahir, patchwork and other embroidered products, ajrak, tie and dye, batik and block printed textile products,   hand woven embroidered shawls, wooden lacquer ware, wood carvings, embroidered leather accessories, mud/clay work,  rogan painting.

Kachchh is known for its distinctive traditional crafts, from embroidery to jewellery-making and carving. 

Using simple materials the artisans create objects of great beauty. 

The visitors will be enthralled to witness the Kachchi crafts range from block printing on textiles, bandhni of the Khatris, patch work of Bhirandiyara, leather creations by Meghwal artisans, besides traditional wood and lacquer work and Rogan, the extremely fine lacquer work on cloth produced by the artisans of Chobari and Nirona villages, ajrakh printing from Khavda village  to the exquisite beadwork of Rabari women. The folk embroidery of Kachchh is an ongoing and dynamic tradition. 

Some of the villages and communities have specialised for generations in certain crafts and thereby create masterpieces that delight a connoisseur. The visitors can also view live demonstration by the artisans and craft persons. The exhibition is on till 20 October. 

WHERE: Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, Janpath WHEN: On till 20 October, 10 am to 7:30 pm