In time for the discount season
Wooden dolls from Udaipur on display at the exhibition in Madurai on Friday.If the month of ‘Adi’ is here, can exhibitions be far behind? Expos vie with one another to drain the wallets of Maduraities, who never mind to spend on handicrafts and attractive designer materials.Now, the Craft Bazaar, an exhibition-cum-discount sale, has come to the city to cash in on the ‘month of discounts.’There are 40 stalls selling handicrafts of varied kinds from all over the country. Craftsmen from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from West Bengal to Rajasthan exhibit their wares and ensure that visitors buy authentic and ethnic pieces.The items on display are real stone (precious and semi precious) silver setting jewellery, Bandhini suits, chaniys choli, kotta saris, 100 gm rajai from Rajasthan, phulkari hand woven dress material, jutti from Punjab, colourful bangles from Jaipur, jackets and shawls from Kashmir, Udaipur wooden carvings, handloom bags from Panipath, designer fashion jewellery from Delhi, jute handicrafts and handbags from Kolkata, and Poochamapalli bed spreads.
The colour embroidered and chikkan worked churidars come in the price range of Rs. 200 to Rs.750. White and black coloured bottoms with handwork are available in the price range of Rs.150 to Rs 550 and tops, Rs.160 to Rs 280. Touch of opulence is evident in the vast treasure house of gems and bead ornaments on display. Ear studs made of stones such as jade, pearls, are available for Rs.40. The shining Kanpur leather sandals add grandeur to the show.As part of the expo, there is also a Kala Silk Festival-2007, featuring a wide range of party wear and wedding collections. It exhibits Kancheevaram, Banaras, printed silk, Kolkata ethnic and thread work saris, bandini and banadage shiffon, kantha work saris, super net Manipuri kota saris and Mangalgiri cotton saris. The saris are priced at Rs.99, Rs. 165, Rs.265, Rs.365, Rs.465, Rs.665 and above.The seven-day expo organised by Maharashtra Handloom Handicraft Development Centre is being held at Vijay Mahal, K.K. Nagar. It will remain open from 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. It offers 20 per cent discount on all purchases.
