Manjusha art, Madhubani paintings and artefacts will be on display in Patliputra for 10 days for residents to browse and buy.
Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan opened Shilpotsava, a 10-day festival, on its premises on Tuesday. Nearly 500 artists have come for the exhibition-cum-sale and put on display apparel, artificial jewellery, home décor items, tikuli art (style of hand painting), Manjusha art, Madhubani paintings, jute handicraft, Bhagalpur silk saris, bamboo and terracotta crafts.
Industries minister Jai Kumar Singh inaugurated the exhibition, accompanied by principal secretary S. Siddharth and the Sansthan's deputy development officer Ashok Kumar Sinha.
"I have used block-print designs on salwar suits, saris, shawls, folders, colourful umbrellas and bags," said Patna-based entrepreneur Sunita Prakash. "The items are priced between Rs 1,200 and Rs 7500."
Patliputra resident Nimisha Singh said she was looking forward to buy home décor items for Diwali.
"I like different shapes of diyas and lamps made of terracotta and jute for home decorations," she said. "I have already bought two pairs of dangling earrings."
The Telegraph spotted college student Rupam Sinha buying gifts for friends and relatives. She said: "I bought some statues of Lord Ganesh to gift relatives on Diwali and stoles, bags and trinkets for my friends. I am looking forward to learning tikuli art at the live demo section."
Around 25 national awardees are giving live demo on making sculptures and paintings. Some of the artists are Rajendra Singh Kushwaha, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Rajat Ghosh, Subhadra Devi, Himmat Shah, Maheshwar Ojha and Virendra Singh.
Gujarat sculptor Himmat Shah said: "This is a gala event for amateur artists and art lovers. People can learn the basics of making sculptures and how to mould clay into a desired shape."
Sansthan deputy director Ashok Sinha said a workshop on appliqué art, sculpture and painting will be organised every day and artists will bag awards and cash prizes - the results of which will be declared on October 27.
