A girl taking a look at a handicraft item at the Crafts Bazar on Friday. Picture by Biju Boro

Jan. 16: Lakshidhar Bora Kshetra in the city has been witness to a riot of colours these days.

In tune with the Magh Bihu festivity, an exhibition-cum-sale of exclusive handicrafts from all over the country is under way at the Crafts Bazar-2004 at the Kshetra.

Over 150 craftsmen are participating in the exhibition-cum-sale organised by the Assam Silk Development Centre, an NGO, and sponsored by the development commissioner (handicrafts), Union ministry of textiles. The focus of the Crafts Bazar is on special range of crafts like folk, tribal, traditional and contemporary.

Bapan Debnath from Agartala is showcasing the traditional jute bags. Artisans from all over the country, including Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Orissa, are participating in the fair. Ashutosh Paul from Siliguri, who is displaying his exotic collection of terracotta pots and crafts, said, “I had come for this fair last year also and was impressed by the response of the residents of the city. This year, too, I hope I will make a good bargain.”

“We are committed to uplifting the handicrafts sector of the region and to give it proper scope. We are trying to recognise the talents of the artisans and to take care of the economic uplift of the craftsmen,” an organiser said. The Bazar will give an opportunity for interaction to the craftsmen who are coming from outside the region to know about the demand of the consumers of the Northeast, especially Guwahati, he added. The office of the development commissioner (handicrafts), Union ministry of textiles, is the nodal agency for promotion, development and marketing of handicrafts items throughout the country.

As part of its marketing promotional activities, the office is organising crafts bazaars, national-level meets, handicraft expos and gift fairs in India and abroad. Crafts bazars are organised in different cities of the country through the state handicraft corporations, handicraft co-operative societies and non-government organisations involved in the sector.

The Assam Silk Development Centre is working for the promotion, development and marketing in the field of handicrafts as well as sericulture in the Northeast. “We are also working for the welfare of the artisan community and trying to make value additions to the various handicrafts of the region,” said the official. Artfed will organise a Craft Bazar at the Assam Engineering Institute field from February 4 to 13 wherein craftsmen from all over the region will participate. A special handloom expo will be held at Dispur from February 8 to 20.

It has also submitted a project to Delhi for setting up a textile park at Paschim Boragaon at a cost of Rs 8,11.78 lakh.

Artfed officials said a computer-aided design (CAD) centre would be set up at its head office.