From knitted bags and mufflers, Portuguese chandeliers in gold to fairylights, the Blind School Diwali Fair’s collection can accentuate the festive vibe, says Sakshi Sharma
Every year, with Diwali round the corner, there is a place where all the Dilliwallas make a beeline to. Yes, you’ve guessed it at the first go, Blind School Diwali Mela it is. The fanciest of candles, the latest in-home accessories, traditional crafts, gift items, gardening material and the last word in ethnic fashion for which you do not have to necessarily break your bank is what you have on offer.
A walk around the mela puts you in the midst of a festive vibe that is evident all around. There is everything which can cater to every whim — from a fashionista who wants to be impeccably turned out during the festival to the homemaker looking to buy utensils for Dhanteras. There are traditional artefacts from different states exhibiting their history which made people from all walks of life delve into the arts and culture of the various states.
However, it is a stall selling Japanese flowers with huge multicolour petals that is in for a lot of attention. Made of silk and leather, the flowers have nylon netting stretched over them. The cherry blossom flowers especially are indeed a replica of natural ones. The leaves are dyed with organic colours and the petals are shaped into natural rounded forms with the help of goffering irons. Then there are camelias, bonsais, smaller flowers and more. And the colours — a burst of purple, pink, bright red, peach which can liven up any room.
There are 270 stalls, each peddling wares with a personal, innovative touch. The ones drawing the crowds have handmade colourful candles, diyas, paper products including bags, envelopes, papier-mache plates, cups and cloth products made by visually-impaired trainees.
However, even here, innovation is the key to make the customers keep coming back year after year. Swapna Merlin, one of the members of the Blind Relief Association, which organises the mela says, “This year, we have added more variety in our existing products, in terms of the designs and colours as well. There are 75 varieties now. Knitted items, like sling bags, which were not there until last year are also on sale this time.”
There are a queue of stalls and an attractive kids carnival store which draws attention because of its bright dresses but it is the yellow ones that overpower all other colours. The owner Sonali Singh said, “Earlier we only had sweatshirts. But now we have printed theme-based clothes in organic fabric.” The clothes have figures of Lord Ganesha, Krishna, Hanuman, Goddess Laxmi, Durga and other deities. Sonali says that the idea is to initiate a conversation with the children about mythology and religion. “When they wear dresses with Goddess Laxmi or Lord Hanuman, it makes them curious. This will not only help them know about our rich cultural history but also strengthen their bond with parents or grandparents when they want to know more,” she added.
The fair also provides a platform to the NGOs to showcase the products made by differently-abled persons and get exposure to a world of opportunities. Aanchal, an NGO owner has on offer handmade bags made of recycled paper to carry gifts in. These are painted with beautiful floral designs by the mentally-challenged kids of her NGO. She says, “I’ve come here for the first time here. Through this I am able to promote what my kids have made. When I tell my children about the scale of the market, it gives them a sense of empowerment.”
Adjacent to her stall is that of Goonj, a development organisation known for recycling products and bridging the gap between urban surplus and rural poverty. They have jute tote bags with cotton tapes and blue colour jute wallets which are perfectly stitched by rural women and ensure sustainability and durability.
Next in line is a stall decorated with a creative cluster of wine bottles and fairy lights with messages such as ‘create your own vibe’, ‘own it all’ and more. Each bottle has a rope tied around its neck so that one can hang it anywhere. The stall also has Portuguese chandeliers in gold and a teepee (in the shape of a tent) light in black. Its vendor, Ruchi Malik says, “This is the time when everyone wants to revamp their homes economically. So, I have used wine bottles to create an aesthetic look. Instead of painting their homes people can use designer fairylights and bottles to accentuate the some corners.”
A collection of multicolour knitted bags and mufflers made of jute, cotton, paper and textile waste are kept below a banner which says ‘A story of hard work, passion and skill’ attracts people in droves. The stall has macrame bag of different sizes, cotton pouches, cross knit small bags, crochet bags, flower basket bags, mountain knit tote, moondoggie bags and others. A NIFT graduate, the owner Vrinda Khemka says that this initiative aims to improve the knitting and stitching skills of women of surrounding villages to make them financially independent through craft.
Additionally there are cotton and woolen quilts in pastel shades, Lucknawi chikankari, clay products, food stalls — more of what we have been seeing for years at the mela, though the charm never wears off.
The executive secretary of the association, Kailash Chandra Pandey says that this year they have started a campaign of no plastic. So, all the products are covered by white Braille sheets. “We also have storytelling sessions on Raja Ke Sau Chere, Sheikh Chilli Ke Khayali Pulao and many others,” he adds.
Photo: Pankaj Kumar