Customers enquire rates of items at the terracotta counter of the new Jharcraft showroom. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Sept. 6: Original handloom and handicraft items woven by state weavers will now be easily available for customers who always craved for such items.

Even for those who are looking forward to adorning their living rooms with handicrafts fashioned out of bamboo and jute, the new showroom, Jharcraft, a state government undertaking provides ample choice.

Both handicraft and handloom items stacked here have been completely woven by hand. Some of the handloom items are brought from weavers of Irba and Baluchuri.

Tussar sarees also arrive here from Bhagiya (Santhal Pargana), Kharsawan and Godda, among other places. Deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto, while inaugurating the showroom on the second floor of Rospha Towers, was all praise for such an initiative. Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation will run the showroom.

Dhirendra Kumar, director of handloom, sericulture and handicraft department of Industry, Jharkhand, said that the main aim of opening the showroom is to give a boost to cottage industries and also to preserve the dying forms of art in the state. The ground floor of the showroom showcases handicraft fashioned out of bamboo and jute like baskets, towels, mattresses, statues and frames of papier mâché, terracotta and pottery costing Rs 50 upwards.

The first floor is a veritable storehouse of pure cotton and tassar pieces for shirts and trousers in original colours, like pink, maroon and yellow keeping in tune with the latest trends and style, tribal jewellery, cotton salwars, lac bangles, woven shawls and fruit bowls.

“The cost of cotton pieces is Rs 46 per metre, while that of tussar is Rs 495 per metre made on handloom by the master trainers and seven trainees at Bhagiya, Santhal Pargana, who are working in Sahid Nirmal Mahto,” said a salesman, Bihari Murmu. Vishnu Ram, another representative from Kharsawan, was seen arranging varieties of sarees in varied colours adorned with mythological characters.

“The sarees are Baluchuri, mulberry, on which artisans have designed the images of gods and goddess from epics like Mahabharat and Ramayan. On the saree itself, the story is narrated. The costs of such sarees range from Rs 550 to Rs 4,200,” Ram said.

He added that these sarees are woven by artisans residing in Godda and Kharsawan. “I have taken training from Bangalore Central Silk Board for 10 days to impart an original touch to the sarees. In turn, I have been able to pass on the tips to my weavers,” Ram said.