USEFUL: Bamboo handicrafts on display at the fair. — Kochi, Jan 18 : The North-East Crafts Fair that is open at TDM Hall presents a range of artefacts and is proving to be quite a crowd puller.
Organised by the North-Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation, it showcases a wide array of curios, cane and bamboo furniture and craft, wood carving, jewellery, brass and bell metal works, handloom and hand-painted textile goods and handmade footwear created in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura besides some eastern tribal and traditional paintings from Orissa.
Hand-woven fabrics with rich and symbolic ornamentation typical of Assamese fabric design and Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal ornaments made using cane, bamboo, glass beads and silver make the exhibition worth a visit. Carpets with dragon, floral and geometric motifs show off their ethnic rareness.
Also on display are toys and dolls made of straw, clay and ‘laishingfee’ (quilted cotton material) besides Kauna grass cushions and mattresses of Manipur; the famous ‘endi’ silk and pineapple fibre articles from Meghalaya; and colourful tribal weaves, handcrafted basketry items besides the hugely popular Naga spear.
The place looks like a miniature Dilli Haat minus the eateries and countrywide representation, but the artisans present at the stalls are far more friendly and willing to elaborate on their creations.
The items are a bit costly, but authenticity and colourfulness make up for their price tag.
The fair is open till January 29 between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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