Artisans hailing from different States have done brisk business on the maiden day of Virasat — Art and Heritage Festival — on November 29 which is being organised by the Rural Entrepreneurship for Art and Cultural Heritage (REACH) at Dr Ambedkar Stadium on Kaulagarh Road in Dehradun.
The artistes from Andhra Pradesh are displaying, for the first time, lamp shades, leather puppets and wall-hangings made of goat hides and designed with the natural paints consisting of flower and leaves extracts. These items are turning big hits here.
Gangi Shetty, who claimed to be attending Virasat for the first time, said that he had earned profit to the tune of Rs 5,000 on the first day. lampshades starting from Rs 350 to Rs 2,500 and paintings priced at Rs 12,000 are on display at his stall.
Indian Fighter Kites are also available for the children at the fair. Shavez Miya from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, whose family has been in the trade of making aesthetically designed kites for generations, said that the family has remained engaged in it for over 100 years. “This is the 21st time I am displaying the kites at Virasat,” he said.
These kites are christened as Indian Fighter Kites, specially designed for the kids and the people who are fond of kites. “Apart from the kites, we also make wall- hangings made of ‘Arkand’ fabric and structured with the bamboo with paintings embossed on them with the acrylic colours. Even the kites, used as décor, which cost around Rs 70, are drawing people here,” he added.
Aadikruti group from Chattisgarh which is an adept for the unique tribal artifacts, Dhokra art, terracotta and bamboo art has also pitched its stall for the first time at Virasat. The prices range from Rs 100 to Rs 25,000.
Rajyashri, one of the members of the group, said that their target stands at Rs 10000 per day. “The response was good on the first day. Many appreciated the work. Some passed on, saying that the items are too exorbitant for them. I being a part of the art group want the art to survive. We are basically promoting the unique art through displaying and selling,” she said.
Savita Mandal from West Bengal was found displaying flowers made up of Solas. She is drawing buyers too.
A cooperative group which is making apple juice from apples grown in Harshil also earned a profit of Rs 6000 on the first day. Akash Gupta, one of the members of the group, claimed to have been awarded the first prize by the State’s Chief Minister Harish Rawat during the fair organised at Parade Ground. The apple juice which is being sold by the group contains no water, no sugar and no preservatives, he said, adding that over 2000 women apple-growers are associated with the group.
Paper mache art and items made up of walnut wood from Kashmir has brought the stuff for the approaching Christmas. Gulzar who is considered a master of this art, said that he had been bestowed with national award for pots made of paper mache technique, costing around Rs 1,25000. “It takes around six and a half months to make such a pot,” he said, adding that this art had been first introduced in India in 16th century by the Iranian travellers.