Colours of the East

Dastkar, in association with Delhi Tourism, presents the much awaited first edition of Dastkar Purabi- Festival of the East! This summer, celebrate diverse handcrafted products, textiles and traditions of the states of Odisha, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Assam. The festival will be held at The Nature Bazaar venue, Kisan Haat, Andheria Modh in the Capital from March 12 till 23.

There will lip smacking cuisine from the east and Folk Performances will include Bihu and Dhol Cholam dance forms Assam and Manipur, Bamboo and Dhol Cholam dance forms, Manipur and Gotipua dance form, Odisha. Craftspeople, producers and designers from the magnificent Eastern states Odisha, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Assam will showcase a rich bounty of beautifully hand-crafted textiles, home furnishings, decorative, jewellery and much more.

There will be Hand-woven Khadi; versatile Ikats and vibrant Kantha embroidered sarees, dupattas and stoles; sturdy tribal weaves from Manipur along with luminescent Eri and Muga Silks hand-woven by the Bodo tribe of Assam.

Designer brands like Sanjukta will showcase how the humble gumccha and lungi metamorphose into trendy garments and accessories. Look forward to Pattachitra inspired block printed fabrics. Make a statement with fashionable Meenakari, teracotta, bead, silver and stone jewellery.

Cane and bamboo handcrafted products will feature along with black pottery and fine seashell ornaments and distinctive Dhokra metal craft, traditional leather toys and purses.  Further enchanting Tassar Patta, Pattachitra and Palm Leaf paintings shall leave you spell bound.

Special Features include Dakti: Handmade Impressions. It was formed when several designers and artists who after having had experiences in the craft sector of Meghalaya realized the need for a more comprehensive approach for protection and preservation of crafts of the state. At Purabi, they will showcase fine bamboo crafts along with handcrafted black pottery.

Indi Lou - Indi silk manufacturer started its activities with a few unemployed women in Kokrajhar, the capital of Bodoland Territorial Council in the state of Assam, and has worked extensively in the promotion of the region’s culture. 

SASHA - Association for Craft Producers is a not for profit craft development and marketing organization working with marginalized artisans and women producers-mainly from West Bengal, Odisha and other states of Eastern India. This bazaar they will be showcasing prominent crafts from West Bengal.

Is there anything more familiar, and yet more neglected, than the gamcchas and lungis of India? Worn and used across the length and breadth of this breathtakingly diverse country, they seem to weave the nation along one common warp and weft. Hand-woven, wholly made of cotton and tropic-friendly, these fabrics have suffered undeserved neglect, losing out to artificial blends and the 

mill-processed weaves.