CHENNAI: The fourth edition of Rajasthan Grameen Mela, an annual exhibition of handloom and handicrafts of Rajasthan, kickstarted on Thursday. According to Mahaveer Jain, secretary, Rajasthan Arts and Crafts, this time the exhibition is bigger and better. “In the previous years, the response has been great for this exhibition. This year, there are a wide range of products and new ones like the traditional lamps,” he says.
Rajasthan, he says, is known for sarees like ikat, bandhini and Sambalpur, besides khadi kurta for gents. “All these have been created by around 45 artisans, by hand. These artisans will be present at the venue, Kalakshetra, and customers who want custom-made products can get it done right then and there,” he says. “We have also brought a tribal group all the way from Rajasthan, who would be displaying products done using Dokra art,” he adds.
Besides clothes, the exhibition includes a wide range of jewellery items. “There are jewellery sets made of original stones like ruby, besides a collection of semi-precious jewellery. All these will be custom-made for the customers, if they want,” he says. The other items include wood-carved and crystal showpieces.
Rajasthan Grameen Mela is on at Kalakshetra till Pongal.