Celebrating India's ageless garment

With every coming year, Dastkar celebrates the Indian garment by hosting a well-curated collection of handloom and handcrafted sarees which are exclusive in its make. This year they bring their much-awaited celebration of the Indian Saree: The Grand Saree Fair.

The five-day carnival cum festival will be held from September 20 – 28, 2019 at the Nature Bazaar Venue, Kisan Haat, Andheria Modh to celebrate the ageless garment and bring forth the traditions and culture that envelopes its lifecycle. The main aim behind the event is to increase awareness about the various types of sarees, the lives involved around it and the importance of it in the Indian culture.

The main idea behind the festival is to give a boost to traditional weaves, some of which are vanishing and this fair, Dastakar will bring together weavers from all over India and will also give Delhiites a sneak-peak into traditional Indian wear.

Sarees to look out for at the fair include Jamdani, Mangalgiri, Batik, Block Printing, Madhubani, Silk Weaving, Ikat Weaves, Tribal Weaves from Assam, Block Prints, Handwoven Sarees and much more.

Along with a variety to shop from, visitors can also indulge in various activities that have been planned cultural performances like Manganiyars from Rajasthan (September 21 and 22), where a group of musicians from Rajasthan will recite tales of historical and cultural significance.

Cultural demonstration on hand spinning and handloom weaving will also be a part of this fair.

Apart from encouraging online followers to promote the garment, the aim of the event is also to encourage newcomers to display their work, and for the regular ones to develop their products along newer lines. Visitors can witness a variety of new additions to the Dastkar family in terms of participants as well as newly crafted sarees, drapes and more.

Some of the prominent participant who will be displaying their work will be Threads by Rekha Kapoor – A regular participant of Dastkar shows. Rekha Kapoor is known to explore variety by combining various crafts in one garment and adding her contemporary design knowledge to traditional crafts. Threads will be displaying a new concept which involves Tussar Silk Dupattas with Shibori and more. Also, a collection of hand-painted Kalamkari sarees will be displayed at her stall.

Dayalal Kudecha is another part of the Dastkar family, who has been participating for more than 10 years. Dayabhai is known internationally as well as locally for his excellence in Bhujodi craft.

"I am happy to earn my livelihood as a weaver. I enjoy the sense of independence. I also feel proud of how my success has set an example for young people in my community to continue or return to weaving," said Dayabhai.