Indian handicrafts, traditional art and textiles will come to the fore amid cultural performances and workshops, in a two-week crafts bazaar, set to kick off at Dilli Haat here on Tuesday.

The 33rd edition of Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar, organised annually by non-profit organisation Dastkari Haat Samiti since 1986, will feature over 180 artisans and master craftsmen from all parts of the country, a statement from the organisers said.

On sale will be vankar shawls and bandhani from Gujarat, Banarasi textiles from Uttar Pradesh, handloom fabrics from West Bengal, handwoven chanderi, pashminas, carpets, and durries, along with ajrakh block printing, kantha embroidery, pattachitra paintings, inlay furniture, papier mache, home decor accessories, regional cuisines and organic products, it added.

While, over past decades, Indian handicrafts seem to have been sold under brand names, the bazaar aims to break the barriers between the craftspeople and the community, and bring together traditional weaves, sustainable home decor items and crafts.

"The idea behind our annual crafts bazaars all over India is to help the artisans in keeping their craft alive and connect directly with the consumer.

"It's intriguing to keep the traditional techniques and authenticity of the craft alive and yet contemporarise it to make it relevant for today's time," Jaya Jaitly, textile revivalist, author and former Samata Party president, who has conceptualised the event, told IANS.

"Design innovation is the focal point of the 15-day crafts bazaar," the long-standing activist for handicraft artisans and craftspeople, added.

In a special appeal to the haat visitors, Jaitly pointed to the "regular traders who have managed to occupy Dilli Haat for long periods and sell cheap goods made in small factories", and requested visitors to buy from "true craftspeople, who seldom get an opportunity to come to Dilli Haat".

The event will also feature workshops and performances by flute makers from Varanasi, Sufi folk singers from Gujarat -- who will sing the poetry of Kabir, Mirabai, and Ravidas -- and tribal martial Chhau dancers from Bengal, the statement added.

The line-up includes a craft and skill exchange programme with Indonesia, supported by the Ministry of Textiles. Workshops by an Indonesian artisan, along with several Indian ones will form part of the bazaar.

As per the organisers, there will also be a classic Balinese dance performance.

The Bazaar's entry fee is Rs 20. It will run from January 1-15 from 11 am to 9 pm.

--IANS

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