Crafts Festival: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR CRAFTS FESTIVAL

If you cannot go to the North-East, said a wise man, make the North-East come to you. If he didn't he should have. And anyway, it's here, all this week.

Purbashree Emporium of Bangalore, together with North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited, is organising an exhibition of handicrafts and handlooms, from 26th December to 6th January, at the Royal Court Function Hall, Lakdi-ka-Pul.

There are a variety of products from the states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Chattisgarh. Cane and bamboo items like small and big baskets, sitting stools, fruit bowls, dining table mats, coasters, pen trays, letter racks, wall bouquets, bed lamps, bangle and lipstick stands, are all worth admiring, both for their quality and cost. They are priced between Rs. 25 and Rs. 600 each.

The cane furniture section is a letdown with only four sets of sofas and about three sets of visitor's room chairs with center-tables. The quality and design are not so worthy of mention. A small counter with jute bags, even if it doesn't have much in variety, has some worth buying for the prices, between Rs. 200 and Rs. 400.

In the handloom section, blankets, pillow covers, sofa covers and ladies' salwars deserve a look. The hand embroidery work and prints on saris, salwars and blankets look good. Also on display at a small section are artificial and silver jewelry, leather items, wood carvings and metalware art, but these are perhaps not much to write about.

For further details, please contact the venue at 2331-6542.