THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Haven’t started your Onam shopping yet? If you want to fill your shopping bags with some ethnic stuff head straight to the Gujarat handicrafts and handloom exhibition at Jawahar Balabhavan, Kanakakkunnu. “We have come with a wide range of unique products this festival season,” says K Arunachalam, manager, Gujarat Emporium.
Salwar suits, dress material, tops and ornaments flaunting traditional Gujarat handwork is the major highlight of the expo. You will find a good collection of saris sporting block, batik, Kutch, vegetable and bandhini prints. Cotton and silk saris with brush work, ghagra cholis, chikan worked kurtas, saris with poolkari designs and tie and dye salwar sets are also on offer. In the home decor section there are bed spreads and sheets with embroidery and applique work along with cushion covers and mats with lace work.
The expo also showcases a wide range of traditional Gujarati and Rajasthani ornaments. White metal sets, long chains, classy studs and lockets made of Jaipur’s precious and semi-precious stones, elegant bangles studded with Australian diamonds and 22 carat gold covering ornaments dotted with coral and emerald. You will find artifacts from nine states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka.
Another highlight is an exclusive array of gift items. Idols made of brass and wood, leather bags, dainty purses, terracotta products, pooja items and Channapatna toys are on offer. There are products suiting all pockets and the price range is from ` 10 to ` 10,000.
The expo is organised under development scheme of the Government of India to improve the livelihood of craftsmen and weavers. Completely avoiding middlemen they sell products with a rebate of 20 percent for handlooms and 10 percent for handicrafts. The exhibition is on till September 10. Walk in anytime between 10 am to 8 pm.