Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday, inaugurated the 24th Hunar Haat of indigenous products of artisans and craftsmen at Awadh Shilpgram in the state capital.
“For us, self-reliance is the mantra with which we successfully handled the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for giving us the honour to give this platform to the artisans and craftsmen who have come here from across the country,” the chief minister said.
For the first time, ODOP products have been added to the Hunar Haat.
“The ODOP (One District, One Product) scheme has created new possibilities in the state. Be it the chikankari of Lucknow, carpets of Bhadohi or the terracotta of Gorakhpur, all are hallmarks of the districts of our state and local artisans of the state are getting recognition,” the chief minister added.
The theme of the Hunar Haat this year is ‘Local for Vocal’ and about 500 artisans and craftsmen from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other states are participating. “We have seen that whenever our artisans and craftsmen did not get a platform, our state went backward. But in the past three years, we have taken a big leap and as our prime minister says, whether it is Hunar Haat or ODOP, it achieves the goal of a self-reliant India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has done an unprecedented work and over five lakh artisans across the country are getting a new platform, further strengthening the resolve of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” the chief minister said.
It may be mentioned that indigenous products such as ajrakh, applique, art metal ware, Bagh print, batik, Banarasi saree, bandhej, Bastar art and herbal products, block print, brass metal bangles, Kota silk, Pashmina shawls, cane and bamboo products, canvas painting, chikankari, copper bells are on display at the Hunar Haat.
Exclusive handloom textile, kalamkari, mangalgiri, lac bangles, leather products, Rampuri violins, wooden and iron toys, kantha embroidery, crystal glass items, sandalwood products are also available on display and sale.
Organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, the ODOP products of UP have been included for the first time in the Hunar Haat which will continue till February 4.