The Hunar Haat was inaugurated by the Ministry of Union Minority Affairs at Delhi Haat, Pitampura, after seven months of lockdown

The Hunar Haat was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Ministry of Union Minority Affairs, at Delhi Haat, Pitampura, yesterday, along with Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. The fair will go on till November 22.

Naqvi said that the magnificent indigenous products of master artisans at the haat are Local Pride and Global Praise. He added that the haat is becoming an effective platform to strengthen the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ plan and the ‘Vocal for Local’ by promoting and encouraging indigenous products of master artisans and craftsmen.

Naqvi said that lakhs of master artisans and craftsmen from across the country are happy and excited that the Hunar Haat has been organised again after a gap of about seven months due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

He pointed out that the indigenous exquisite products made from maati (clay), metal and machiya (wooden and jute products) are the major attraction at the fair. Rare exquisite products made from clay, different metals and wooden products, things made from cane-bamboo, mesmerising pottery work, etc, are available for display and sale here.

The haat’s products are now available online also at http://hunarhaat.org. The Union Minority Affairs Ministry is registering these artisans and their indigenous products on “GeM” (Government e-Marketplace) for the trade to work digitally, too.

Naqvi said that every corner of the country has a traditional and ancestral legacy of indigenous products. This legacy, which was on the verge of extinction, has got a boost after Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised on ‘Swadeshi.’ The Indian indigenous industry has got tremendous boost after PM Modi advocated the need for ‘Vocal for Local’. The artisans involved in making these indigenous products are also being extended help through various institutions for attractive packaging of Swadeshi products.

Naqvi said, “Every corner of the country is endowed with diversity of indigenous products made with wood, brass, bamboo, glass, cloth, paper, clay etc. Hunar Haat is an enormous platform providing the market and opportunities to master artisans who prepare these indigenous, exquisite handmade products. Focus this time will be on use of technology and innovation and also towards manufacturing quality products that meet global standards.”

More than 100 stalls have been set up at the Haat. Dry flowers from Assam; Pochampally Ikkat from Andhra Pradesh; Munga Silk, Madhubani painting and artificial jewellery from Bihar; wooden lacquerware toys from Karnataka; toys from Manipur; wooden and glass toys from Uttar Pradesh; calligraphy paintings from Delhi; hand-block print from Goa; Ajrakh from Gujarat; Pashmina from Jammu-Kashmir; Tussar silk and cane-bamboo products from Jharkhand; herbal products, Bagh print, Batik from Madhya Pradesh; cane and bamboo products from Maharashtra, handloom textiles from Nagaland, toys of different states made from clay, metal, etc, are available for display and sale at the fair. Besides, people will also be able to enjoy traditional delicacies from Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana, etc. Different cultural programmes will be presented everyday by renowned artists, which will also be a major attraction.

Naqvi said that the Haat, which has provided employment opportunities to more than five lakh Indian artisans, craftsmen, culinary experts and other people associated with them in the last five years, has become popular among the people. The Haat provides market to artisans and craftsmen from remote areas of the country, and has now become a credible brand of rare, indigenous handmade products.

In the coming days, the Hunar Haat will be organised in Jaipur, Chandigarh, Indore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, India Gate, New Delhi, Ranchi, Kota and Surat or Ahmedabad.

Social distancing and other guidelines owing to COVID-19 are being strictly followed. Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs P K Das and other senior officials of the Ministry were also present at the inauguration.