As the 30th edition of its annual crafts festival is set to ring in the New Year at Dilli Haat, the highlight of the festival would be artworks from Myanmar along with works of 170 craftspeople from villages, and cities across India.
Held by Dastkari Haat Samiti, the mela will see shell craft, basketry, mat weaving, handloom textile weaving, hyacinth grass weaving and jewellery by craftswomen from Myanmar. it will be bringing together exciting crafts talent and traditions in never-seen-before avatars, a rare demo.
The women will exhibit the world famous Pathein umbrellas, puppets, velvet slippers, lacquer work and jade items. The ferstival is supported by the external affairs ministry, the Indian embassy in Myanmar, Corriandar Leaf, Yangon and Air India. Myanmar artists will also be joining hands for a crafts and skill development workshop too.
"The Samiti has constantly worked towards expanding opportunities for craftspeople as conservationists of Indian heritage. The Samiti's artisan-members have travelled all over and collaborated with local artisans in other developing nations to create utility-based and market-friendly products. We aim similar participation for the Myanmar crafts as well," said Dastkari Haat Samiti founder Jaya Jaitly.
There will also be live demonstration of the weaving looms from more than 12 states along with national and state-awardees from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jammu Kashmir, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and others. According to the organisers, a unique feature of the mela will be that the visitors will be able to interact, learn, appreciate and explore Indian and Myanmarese handicrafts and textiles.
Apart from craftworks, visitors will be treated to folk and cultural performances on all days. The performances, which will take place between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. will see a myriad of folk music from Rajasthan, the exotic Kalbelia gypsy dance, Langa group, Bhavai performers and the tribal martial Chhau dancers from West Bengal.
The mela will be on January 1-15, 2016 at Dilli Haat, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
