50 weavers from across India to take part in 17-day handloom expo

Mysuru: As many as 50 weavers from 16 States, including Karnataka will be descending on JSS Urban Haat here for a 17-day handloom mela - Samskruthi-2020 – beginning from Friday.

Development commissioner (handloom), ministry of textiles, government of India, Cauvery Handlooms, Bengaluru, Karnataka State department of handloom, textile and commerce in association with JSS Urban Haath is hosting the expo.

State and national award winning weavers and weavers' societies will be displaying their traditional handloom products llike silk, cotton and embroidery sarees, dress materials, duppattas, shawls, curtains, floor mats, blankets, bags and others in 50 stalls.

The expo will feature Molakalmur, Ilkal and kasoothi sarees of Karnataka, Kanchipuram silk sarees, Madhurai sungudi tie and dye sarees from Tamil Nadu, Godwal and Kalamkaari sarees from Andra Pradesh, Pochampally sarees from Telangana, Tassar silk sarees and Bhagalpuri sarees from Bihar, Kantha work, Baluchari and Bengali cotton sarees from West Bengal, Banaras and chickan embroidery sarees from Uttar Pradesh, Chanderi Maheshwari sarees from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpuri, Ikath, Bomkai sarees from Orissa, Pashmina shawls from Kashmir, Patola silk sarees from Gujrath, embroidery Gota patti sarees from Rajasthan, Phulkari sarees from Punjab and others, according to Rakesh Rai, Artisans coordinator.

He added that weavers from Kerala, Jharkand, Delhi, Goa and those from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chamarajnagar, Mandya, Kolar ,Shivamogga, Tumkur, Chitradurga , Bagalkot, Gulbarga, Hubballi, Dharwad , Haveri and Gadag are participating in the expo till December 6, Mr Rakesh said.

M Shivananjaswamy, Project Officer, JSS Mysore Urban Haat said, "The expo is hosted to support weavers, artisans and craftsmen who are in crisis due to Covid-19 and to save the traditional art and culture by providing opportunity to market their products, and make so many different varieties of traditional handloom products from across the country available to people under one roof. All the Covid-19 precautionary measures are being taken as per the guidelines of the State and central government," he said.

JSS Urban Haat at Hebbal industrial area has permanently built stalls which are designed aesthetically in 5.5 acres. It promotes arts, crafts, heritage and culture by hosting arts and crafts festivals round the year in association with Union ministry of textiles. Artisans and craftsmen who participate in the expos here come up with live demonstrations besides exhibiting and selling their products.

JSS Urban Haat hosted first handicrafts festival in the country after the lock down relaxations, in September. They last hosted an expo in February.