– Dr Shakti Kumar Pandey
Organised by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, “One District One Product” (ODOP) articles of indigenous products of artisans and craftsmen have been included in Hunar Haat exhibition, which will continue till February 4.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were present at ‘Hunar Haat’ in Lucknow on Saturday.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “For us, self-reliance is the mantra with which we successfully handled the Covid-19 pandemic. I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for giving us the honour to give this platform to artisans and craftsmen who have come here from across the country”.
He added, “We have seen that when our artisans and craftsmen did not get a platform, our state went backwards. But in the last three years, we took a big leap and as our PM says, whether it is Hunar Haat or ODOP, it also achieves the goal of a self-reliant India. The minority affairs ministry has done an unprecedented work and over 5 lakh artisans across the country are getting a new platform, further strengthening the resolve of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’.”
Speaking on the occasion, the CM also spoke about the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by India. He said, “If our country was like how it was earlier, it would have been struggling for the vaccine. The prime minister of Brazil has congratulated PM Modi because we have sent the vaccine to Brazil as well. I would like to thank PM Modi for making Brazil realise the power of Atmanirbhar Bharat. This is the new India. We will also give the vaccine to Bhutan… Nepal and Bangladesh. We have given the vaccine to Maldives and Mauritius. We are keeping India’s 135 crore citizens safe. Today, the USA has also praised India for helping southeast Asian countries. This is praise for Modiji’s vision and Atmanirbhar Bharat resolve.”
The CM added, “India is the only country, which has manufactured two vaccines for its people and has started the successful vaccination process from January 16… India’s vaccine is being considered the best. Remember, the price of the two vaccines that have been manufactured by India is Rs 200. The other vaccines in the world cost Rs 5,000. Indian vaccines are the most effective. It can succeed in temperature ranging from 2 degrees to 8 degrees. The world’s vaccine requires a temperature of -40 degrees, which is not practical for many places.”
The CM also spoke about Brazil President Jair M Bolsonaro thanking India for the vaccine. “The President of Brazil thanked India and invoked Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani on his hands. The whole country is feeling proud,” he said.
Earlier, talking to media persons at “Hunar Haat” in Avadh Shilpgram, Lucknow today, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that artisans and craftsmen from 31 States and UTs are participating in the “Hunar Haat” at Lucknow, where about 500 artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal etc have come at “Hunar Haat” in Lucknow for display and sale of their exquisite handmade products.
He added that indigenous products like Ajrakh, Applique, Art Metal Ware, Bagh Print, Batik, Banarsi Saree, Bandhej, Bastar Art & Herbal products, Block Print, Brass Metal Bangles, Cane & Bamboo products, Canvas Painting, Chikankari, Copper Bell, Dry Flowers, Handloom Textile, Kalamkari, Mangalgiri, Kota Silk, Lac Bangles, Leather products, Pashmina Shawls, Rampuri Violin, wooden and iron toys, Kantha Embroidery, Brass products, crystal glass items, Sandalwood products etc are available at “Hunar Haat” in Lucknow.
Shri Naqvi said that the people will enjoy traditional delicacies from different parts of the country at “Hunar Haat” in Lucknow. Besides, renowned artists of the country will perform cultural events on the theme of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” every day in the evening at “Hunar Haat”.
Renowned artists such as Shri Kailash Kher, Shri Vinod Rathore, Ms Shibani Kashyap, Shri Bhupendra Bhuppi, Mirza Sisters, Shri Prem Bhatia, Ms Rekha Raj, Hamsar Hayat Group, Shri Mukesh Pancholi will enthral the audience with their performance at “Hunar Haat” in Lucknow, he added.
Naqvi said that “Hunar Haat” at Lucknow is also available at virtual and online platform http://hunarhaat.org. Through this, the people of the country and abroad are able to buy “Hunar Haat” products digital and online also.
Naqvi said that the “Hunar Haat” has proved to be immensely beneficial and encouraging for artisans and craftsmen as lakhs of people visit the “Hunar Haat” and purchase indigenous handmade products of artisans on large scale. More than 5 lakh artisans, craftsmen and people associated with them have been provided employment and employment opportunities in the last about 5 years through “Hunar Haat”.
Naqvi said that in the coming days, “Hunar Haat” will be organised at Mysore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Indore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Ranchi, Kota, Surat/Ahmedabad, Kochi, Puducherry and other places.
Earlier, a statement issued by the state government said that this year, the theme of Hunar Haat will be “Local for Vocal” and about 500 artisans and craftsmen from several states, including Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odissa, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh will participate in it.”
Several indigenous products, including Ajrakh, appliqué, art metalware, Bagh print, Batik, Banarasi saree, Bandhej, Bastar art and herbal products, block print, brass metal bangles, Kota silk, pashmina shawls, cane and bamboo products, canvas painting, Chikankari and copper bell, will be on display at the ‘Hunar Haat’.
Exclusive handloom textile, kalamkari, mangalgiri, lac bangles, leather products, Rampuri violins, wooden and iron toys, kantha embroidery, crystal glass items and sandalwood products will also be available for display and sale.
