Splendid handicraft items under one roof
Hindustan Times, India
JUST THINK of a place where a number of splendid handicrafts could be collected under one roof. Yes, the place to be spotted is Brijendra Swaroop Park where the Craft Bazaar is going on. Handicraft artisans from different oarts of the country have brought superb crafts.
The crafts bazaar include cane and bamboo craft, wollens of all the states of North Eastern region. art brassware, wood carving, Zari, Chikan, terracotta, ceramics, woolens from J&K and Himanchal. Chanderi silk, Kantha from Maharastra whereas wood inlay, wood carving and dress material from South India. Apart from all this the craft bazaar do provide customers with traditional jewellery, bandhni work, designers bangles, Kolhapuri chapples, zari zardari and many other items which could take breath away of Kanpurites.
However, CTO (Corporation Training Officer) of Craft Bazaar, Lamgora says that the bazaar provides handicraft artisans a platform from where their items can have a good exposure and a good number of customers too. He further says that it do provide traditional items to various people who love to purchase such goods. “Craft Bazaar also helps in traditional exchange as all the artisans are from different parts of India and at a same spot,†he adds.
Similarly, there are many handicraft artisans present at the craft bazaar stalls and have magnificient crafts with them. They are eagerly waiting for customers.
Raju, an artisan at Karnataka stall says he makes wood inlay craft and instead of using colours he uses different colour of woods to portray pictures, be it a lion’s face or a scenery. He says first he used ivory to make human picture but now it is banned.
But Javed Ahmed, an artisan at Saharanpur stall says that he has wooden craft which is unique as they just give smoothness to naturally shaped woods and a bit is required to bring a wood into a desired shape. He further says that shape of snake, Lord Ganesha, eagle and many more do attract people.
However, crafts made from cane and bamboo too has different customers and are able to stick them to their stalls.
Rakesh Das, an artisan at Tripura stall says that he has wall scenaries, fan sceneries and letter holders. He adds that Lord Ganesha made up of bamboo root is attracting customers as at the front side Ganesha is carved and the other half has roots which makes it gorgeous.
Whereas, Sadak Ali at Meghalaya stall has variety of bamboo craft which includes beautiful lamp shades, candle stands, letter box, pen stand, flower vase and flowers made up of bamboo too.
But at the Hathras stall, Akhilesh feels that he has unique glass and beaded table lamps and the hanging lamps attract customers more and the situtation is same at the Andaman and Nicobar stall where various conch and shells are inviting people to the stall.
Though there are some handicraft artisans who do have language problem and take more time to satisfy their customers.
Ranjana, an artisan at Manipur stall says she has traditional clothes and dress material. “Manipuri dolls and Kaono bags are most sought after item at the craft bazaar “ she adds.
