Dastkar and Delhi Tourism will hold a winter extravaganza to celebrate winter textiles, crafts, food and more. The exhibition will bring together the best of the rich regional textiles, beauty products, food and more from across India, with a special focus on the crafts of Kashmir!
There will be beautiful tussar silk weaves from Chattisgarh and Bihar, the rare and intricate dana-weaving or tangalia textiles from Gujarat, lovely Kullu Kinnauri wool shawls from Himachal Pradesh, a wide selection of Kutch shawls and stoles by several expert weavers from the Vankar community, hand-embroidered and patchwork quilts will be available besides knitted sweaters, capes, gloves and socks.
An exhibition titled Painted Fables: Panchatantra Chitra depicting stories from the Panchatantra, narrated through different painting and craft styles — Madhubani of Bihar, Patachitra of West Bengal and Odisha, Sanjhi paper-cutting from Uttar Pradesh, Sikki grass, Santhal painting from Odisha, Phad painting of Rajasthan, Gond tribal painting of Madhya Pradesh and Kalamkari of Andhra Pradesh, will also be held.
Focus on Kashmir
The winter show will put a spotlight on the extraordinary craft of Kashmir. The floods swept away not only karigars and their family members but also workplaces, equipment, raw material and stocks. In no other state is such a high percentage of population dependent on craft for livelihood, earnings and economic growth. Craftsmen from Kashmir will bring specially developed ranges of the exquisite pashmina shawls that Kashmir is famous for, embroidered, woven and beaten Namda floor coverings, traditional jewellery, garments, stoles and saris in ari and sozni embroidery, done by women in villages in the insurgency-affected Baramullah district. There will be vibrant embroidered bags and accessories, made by remote Gujjar communities, showcasing their products in Capital for the first time. The famous Kashmir saffron, nuts and dry fruit will also be on sale, as will delicious homemade strawberry, apricot and quince jam.
“The exhibition is a small start in helping Kashmir and its craftsmen make new roots and flower and flourish again. It also draws attention to how much needs to be done. I hope Delhi people come forward and support it,” says laila Tyabji, chairperson. The exhibition starts on December 11 at Nature Bazaar venue.
