Customers admire mekhela sadors in a stall at NEDFi Haat on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

April 3: If the echoes of the dhol and pepa are rousing the festive shopper in you, try the pre-Rongali Bihu fair under way at NEDFi Haat. You are surely going to be spoilt for choice.

The fair, being organised by the NGO, Deegh-Bani, features the wares of 40 women entrepreneurs and weavers from across the state that includes new mekhela-sador designs woven on paat, muga, tussar, nuni paat and eri textiles. Then again, there’s the lightweight, attractive block-printed variety that can be worn comfortably even in summer and the option to pick from locally prepared pickles and Rajasthani garments and handicrafts. But all you have is till April 7.

“I have been participating in the pre-Rongali Bihu fair for the past few years and have received a good response from customers. I specialise in block-printed mekhela sadors. Different designs are carved on wooden blocks and then printed on the silk. The block-printed cotton sadors cost less and those done on paat and tussar cost over Rs 2,000. I hope to get do good business this time too,” said Leena Mohan, an entrepreneur from the city.

Some have experimented by combining different material with Assam silk. The colours, too, are vibrant and chic.

“I have woven cotton with tussar to create my new range of mekhela sadors. They are in small floral designs in different hues of yellow, pink, magenta and orange. Though they are priced at Rs 2,100, we give discounts to our customers. They are ideal for daily wear, as women can’t wear Assam silk all the time, as these are costly and have to be dry-cleaned,” said A. Sarma, another entrepreneur.

The fair also gives you a chance to pat an underprivileged girl’s back for making such beautiful wares, which are for sale in a stall put up by the state branch of Indian Council for Child Welfare.

Sunanda Das, joint secretary of the state branch, said, “All the items on display here have been made by young girls residing in our shelters in the city. Products are available at prices ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 1,900. We already paid these girls for creating the items and the amount earned through the sale will also be utilised to take up different activities for the girls.”

Fair organiser Malabika Bora said, “The fair has just begun on Sunday and it is too early to say on how much sale will take place. But with the new designs of mekhela sador, we hope to receive a good flow of customers this time too.”