Gujarat handloom expo kicks off

Hi-Tec City: Gujarat Government’s ‘Garvi Gurjari - Handloom-Handicraft National Buyer-Seller Meet’ kicked off at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in the city on Monday. The 3-day event organised by Gujarat State Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. (GSHHDCL) was formally inaugurated by Sandeep Kumar, Secretary (Cottage & Rural Industries), Government of Gujarat.

Over 100 national buyers and sellers along with another 50 exhibitors and artisans took part in the event.

The exhibition would be open for public from 3 pm to 6pm on Monday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The exhibition has Gujarat’s renowned arts and crafts such as Kuchchi-JamnagariBandhani, Patan’s Patola, Kuchchi Embroidery, Kuchchi Handloom, Rogan Painting and Pithora Art. Artists from various fields like Copper Bell and Rogan painting which are on the verge of extinction are also being showcased.

On display will be hand painted textiles, garments (including skirts, blouses, kurtas, stoles, shawls and jackets),Handblock printed items, Mud and Terrakota works, Metal crafts, decorative hangings, Tangaliya work, batik printing, shawls, handlooms, stoles, bed covers, sarees, etc.

Some works that evoked good interest from the people were patch work / Applique, Rogan painting, Block printing, clothing, clay work, art metal ware, Bandhani Organic Cotton, Embroidered Wall Hangings, Wall pieces, Patola fabric, etc.

A stall from Bhuj selling sweet toned copper brass coated iron bells saw the people turning into musicians and try out playing music on them. Suleman Kasam Luhar, a tenth generation bell maker showcased a cooper-brass coated iron bell chimes and hangings priced Rs.150 to Rs.3500/-

The exhibition is open from 10 am to 5 pm till Wednesday. All are welcome.

Photo caption: Chief Guest Sandeep Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Cottage & Rural Industries), Government of Gujarat and other dignitaries going through the stalls
Handloom-Handicraft National Buyer-Seller Meet kicks off