A shopkeeper displays his wares at a handloom exhibition in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 7: Handloom exhibitions are turning out to be big draws ahead of the festive season.

While Cottonfab exhibition of handloom and accessories that ended last Wednesday attracted a lot of visitors, another handloom fair has started on Exhibition Ground. Warp and Weft, an exhibition organised by the Association of Corporations and Apex Societies of Handloom, jointly with the ministry of textiles, has brought fascinating collections from across the country.

In the 40 kiosks of the fair that began last Sunday, you find garments of almost every famous weave of the country. From Odisha’s very own ikat, bomkai, khandua paata at surprisingly low prices to Punjab’s phulkari, Madhya Pradesh’s chanderi, Bengal’s tussar jamdani and baluchari and the Benarasi works from Uttar Pradesh, there is a wide range to choose from for shoppers. Muga silk and pochampalli from Andhra Pradesh are the options available at the ongoing fair.

“We have a wide range of the famous silk handloom of our region that is priced between Rs 2,100 and Rs 3,600,” said Badal, manning the kiosk of the Sri Durga Mahila Weavers’ Co-operative Society from Nuapatna.

Palwinder Singh from Punjab said that Phulkari found a lot of interest in Odia buyers. “I was here last year in the National Handloom Expo and did great business,” he said.

The fascinating collection of tussar weaves ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 6,000, starting from beautiful stoles and kurtis to dress materials and saris are a hot favourite at the exhibition.

While jamawar sarees and barabanki handloom of Uttar Pradesh seem to be grabbing eyeballs, Mysore silk, Garhwal handloom and chikan needlework are also popular among visitors.

“This is the right time to grab saris and dress materials with the festive season just around the corner. It is good for us customers that we get so many varieties of quality handlooms at one place and that too with attractive discounts,” said Bhanumati Kisan, a corporate employee.

The organisers say that despite heavy rains, the rush at the fair is remarkable. “We hope to do good business because this time of the year has always given good returns to our weavers at such events in Bhubaneswar,” said an official. The exhibition is on till October 12.