Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava: Indian Council of Cultural Relations to organise Craft Extravaganza

The Mela seeks to highlight how India's craft practices can help balance the planet's ecology while sustaining India's cultural heritage, local livelihoods, and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

New Delhi: Cultural relations did not only mean dance and music. The artisans are also crucial stakeholders in this, as they are also the backbone of the rural economy. Therefore, to showcase India's Craft Culture as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava, the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) will organise a three-day event titled 'Coalescence: Craft-Culture-Community-Climate' from 23 to 25 February 2022 at Chandini Bagh, Bikaner House, Pandara Road, New Delhi.

"This is essential for the diplomatic corps so that the embassy and various High Commission officials and diplomats from across the world can get a feel of India's craftsmanship and artisans' strengths," president of ICCR, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, told the reporters. 

The ICCR is run by the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry also is organising weeklong celebrations from 21 to 27 February. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture will inaugurate the event.

There are 22 craftspeople from 11 states exhibiting five forms of Indian Traditional Art Forms, Crafts (Bamboo Art), Textiles, Traditional and Folk Art, Beauty Aromatics and Recycled Products. 

"During all three days, participating artisans in turn will give 45-60 minute talks with demonstrations of the skill or show videos to explain their creative processes to visitors. The Lec-dem will be on Gond Art of Madhya Pradesh; Miniature Art from Rajasthan; Bamboo Craft from Delhi; Kalamkari Art from Telangana; Moonj Grass Baskets from Uttar Pradesh; Warli Art from Maharashtra, Natural Dye-Cotton from Gujarat etc," he said.

Craftsmen would be exhibiting the best of their works, resulting from their continuous innovation and efforts. "These products are natural and organic material produced with non-polluting methods," Dr Sahasrabuddhe said. 

The Mela seeks to highlight how India's craft practices can help balance the planet's ecology while sustaining India's cultural heritage, local livelihoods, and meeting the Millennium Development Goals, Dr Sahasrabuddhe said.

The work would depend on clean air, good soil, greenery, forest and plants, clean water, and sentient beings. "Indian culture, for these reasons, celebrates trees, rivers, mountains, forests, plants and animals. All are considered sacred and associated with some deity so that humans understand they have to be honoured, preserved and cherished for their survival," a statement from ICCR said. The Mela will be curated by Jaya Jaitley of Dastkari Haat Samiti, New Delhi.