Setting up the festive mood ahead of the upcoming festivals– Durga Puja and Dussehra, a nearly two week-long exhibition to showcase an array of exquisite and exclusive handloom and handicrafts creations of master weavers and crafts persons of rural Bengal was opened in the national Capital on Saturday.
The 5th edition of the ‘Bengal Pre-Puja Exposition’, being organised by the Office of the Resident Commissioner, Government of West Bengal, from September 17 - 29, was formally inaugurated at Handloom Haat, Janpath, in the gracious presence of Sanjay Mitra, Secretary, Transport, Government of India, Bhaskar Khulbe, Secretary to the Prime Minister, RD Meena, Officer on Special Duty, Office of the Resident Commissioner as well as other senior officials of the Government of West Bengal.
Around 50 artisans from various districts of West Bengal will participate in the exposition which is aimed at promoting the rich and glorious tradition of Bengal handicrafts and handloom and also ensuring commercial benefits to the crafts persons and weavers before the festive season. A special attraction will be the representation of the rural craft hubs, being developed in ten locations across the state by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSME&T) in partnership with UNESCO. The artisans from the craft hubs have been brought to Delhi in collaboration with banglanatak.com, an implementing agency of the project.
Special cultural soirees had been organised at the courtyard of Handloom Haat on the weekend, with performance by Bengali folk fusion band and mystic baul singers showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of the state.
The initiative is being supported by the Departments of MSME&T, Tourism and Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal. The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, which is the controlling authority of Handloom Haat, has extended valuable assistance and cooperation to this endevour.