The art and craft exhibition at the G Town Club. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Sept. 24: The stage is set but the props are missing.

The New Art and Fair Festival began on a hesitant note today as most of the trucks that were bringing over the material have been delayed or re-routed because of incessant rains.

About 70 artisans, each specialising in different trades, have come together at the fair that displays a rare collection of handicraft products.

“Our stock is yet to reach us, in the absence of which we will not be able to do full justice to the fair,” said a dejected Arvind Singh, who wanted to showcase his furniture collection at the fair.

The organisers said that many of the trucks that were supposed to bring over the stock have gone haywire and some have even proceeded to Puri. Now a group from the organising committee is trying to bring them back to the city.

Organised by the Uttar Pradesh-based Shilp Gram Seva Sansthan at the G-Town ground in Bistupur, the objective of the fair is to ensure that lesser known artisans get a platform to showcase their products.

From elegant jute pieces to the more ancient heavy home furniture, variety is the key factor that is drawing crowds to this fair, although the turnout today was low because of the rains.

If there is an entire range of elegant garments embroidered with chikan work, there is also on offer intricate embroidered suit pieces available at affordable prices to suit everybody’s pocket.

Keeping them company are elegant sarees and ethnic oriental wear as also western formals and casuals.

Handloom items and wooden pieces alongside an enviable range of utility products are also to be found at this fair.

Moreover, there is a huge range of colourful accessories and junk jewellery that is going down well with the customers, too. “Such fairs involve direct interaction between the customers and the artisans and help the artisans develop their skills better,” said a member of the organising committee.

No formal dates for the conclusion of the fair have been announced by the organisers as yet, thanks to the rain.

The response in the coming days would give them an idea of when to let the curtains down.