The art of the matter from different states

Unity in diversity can be seen in new cultural equations at the Orissa Crafts Utsav at the Women’s Association Hall here.

 The fair is notable for the sale of state handlooms, handicraft and jewellery items.

As many as 25 vendors from different states are selling their items here.

Chanderi cotton saris and churidar materials, Orissa handloom clothes, Gujarati handloom saris and churidars, tribal jewellery, metal crafts, wood carving, Patachitra painting works, palm leaf paintings, applique designs, leather bags and purses from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and Jaipurmade food materials are the chief attractions of the fair.

 “Diverse handicraft items from Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are here on sale.

 The items are made by artisans, especially women, with their regional tastes.

 The people have the opportunity to buy the items from all over India under one roof at a reasonable price,” said Sreekanth from Odisha, organiser of the utsav.

 “Chanderi cotton saris and churidar materials are the most sought-after items,” says Murukan, a vendor.

 A majority of the items here are rare collections. You will get 10 percent discount for all the items. The price of handlooms is based on the complexity of designs,” he said.

 The food section is an added attraction of the fair. The small food corner gives room for Khata mango, special lemon ginger, special banara pan and special Jaipur pan. Varieties of mouth fresheners are also available.

 They include Punjabi, coconut, Badam and Shimla mixtures.

 Different kinds of hand-made ornaments from Odisha and Rajasthan capture people’s attention.

 “All ornamentation is done by hand with small shuttles of yarn,” says Shihab, the only Malayali vendor at the fair.

 “Though technology may speed up work, the artisans still prefer handlooming to preserve the purity of tradition,” he said.

 The visitors are fascinated with the showcases of these varied collections.

 “It is indeed an opportunity for us to have a large selection of rare traditional dress materials and out-of-state tribal ornaments,” says Dhanya, a customer.

 The fair will conclude on July 15.