All-India Crafts Mela: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR ALL-INDIA CRAFTS MELA

The Shilparamam Arts Crafts Mela Society, in association with the Development Commissioners of Handicrafts And Handlooms and the Ministry Of Textiles, is organising the 14th All-India Crafts Mela from 15th December to 3rd January.

This is the most sought-after and eagerly awaited annual bazaar for the crafts-loving people of the city. It has been recognized by the Government of India to be on par with the Surajkund Mela near New Delhi, and has also been declared as one of the National Events of the Ministry Of Textiles since 2O01.

The mela has been growing with the years, but this year it has been reduced to almost half the scale of last year. Yet the spread stays huge. 600 artisans from 17 Indian states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Orissa and West Bangal - will be showcasing their products in this direct-to-customer exhibition.

The objective of the mela is to allow the artisans to exhibit and sell their handicrafts and handlooms directly to the customer, thus eliminating middlemen and enabling the product reaching the customer at reasonable prices.

Stuff your wallets/handbags with sufficient currency (credit cards are not accepted here) and shop for a wide variety of handicrafts, including ceramic and crockeryware, khurja pottery items, wooden sculpture, Kondapalli, Ettikoppaka and Chennapatnam toys, jute bags, Rajasthani marbles and puppets, perfumes and agarbathis, Orissa leaf paintings and applique work, miniature and gem stone paintings, Nirmal and Cherial paintings, oxidised metal statues, leather puppets and lamp shades, exquisite rosewood and carving furniture, Thanjavur paintings, crochet laces and cotton durries, jewelry, leather bags and cutwork panels.

The handloom collection is no less in variety. Stocks of overflowing colorful saris are attracting lots of women, and the fabrics are getting sold like hot cakes. Barmeri prints from Rajasthan, hand block prints, Banjara embroidery from Andhra Pradesh, Chanderi and Maheshwari saris from Madhya Pradesh, handloom saris from West Bengal, Sambalpuri saris from Orissa, Chikan work from Lucknow, Pulkari work from Punjab, Chettinad handlooms from Tamil Nadu, block prints from Jaipur, room carpets and Tussar silk from Uttar Pradesh, Kashmiri silk saris, and Paithani saris from Maharashtra make up the vast display.

Cultural programs such as instrumental music, Carnatic vocal, classical dances and folk programs will be held every day during the 17-day bazaar. In addition, folk programs like Dappu Nrityam, Yakshaganam, Puli Veshalu, Oggudolu, Garagalu, Tolubommalata, Buttabommalu, Pagati Veshalu, Teppatigullu and Mahagaradi recitals will start at 3:30pm everyday at the mela lawn.

Please contact the venue at 2310-0455 for further details.