Dastkari Haat Samiti Set To Illuminate Pune Next Month With Diwali Extravaganza
Pune, 24th October 2023: The Dastkari Haat Samiti is gearing up for its much-anticipated return to Pune next month, promising a vibrant celebration of art and craftsmanship just in time for Diwali. After a year-long hiatus, the event is poised to captivate visitors with an eclectic array of handmade crafts, textiles, and traditional arts.
Scheduled to take place at the Dutch Palace on Bund Garden Road from 1st to 7th November, this cultural spectacle invites Pune residents to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of India’s crafts. The event guarantees an unparalleled shopping experience with 100 stalls showcasing a diverse range of products, including weaves, hand block prints, embroideries, crafts in grass, bamboo, metal, wood, and various plant materials. Visitors can also explore exquisite jewelry, stationery, ceramics, terracotta, and traditional art forms ranging from tribal Gond to Kalighat, Phads, Pattachitra, and Pichhwais.
Adding to the excitement, several new products and artisans will be featured this year:
- Desi Oon introduces textiles and cheese supporting pastoralist communities.
- Aavran from Udaipur brings home furnishings and apparel in natural indigo dyes.
- Project 1000 presents plaited fabric tableware.
- Pattachitra artist Laltu Chitrakar from West Bengal debuts with scrolls and songs.
- Gold Leaf embossed Pichhwais from Rajasthan.
- Dayaben from Kutch showcases extra fine Soof embroidery.
- EkiBeki by Vishpala Hundekari offers an array of artistic stationery.
- Unique stationery made from Elephant Poo in Jaipur!
- Kotpad fabrics and saris in rare natural dye colors from Odisha.
- Natural grass baskets from Orissa and UP.
- Black Pottery and baskets from Manipur.
- Sholapith Flowers from West Bengal.
Craft enthusiasts can witness live demonstrations of skill in glass objects and jewelry from Firozabad, terracotta from Rajasthan, Madhubani Painting from Bihar, Pattachitra Painting from Orissa and West Bengal, Gond Painting from Madhya Pradesh, Sea shell crafts from West Bengal, and Pichawai Painting.
A special feature of the event is the personal engagement between selected artisans and visitors, where artisans will share their stories and processes.
The Dastkari Haat Samiti is set to launch three storybooks on 4th November at 4:30 pm, penned and illustrated by the Samiti. The books, namely “Hira Paints the Town,” “How Ganesh Got His Laddoos,” and “Bhajju’s Flock and the Tick-Tock Clock,” will be released by children along with a traditional artist.
Adding a cultural touch to the festivities, Rajasthani folk music and the Kalbelia dance by Bhutte Khan Manganiar, an international folk artist from Barmer, Rajasthan, will grace the event. The performance will be a culmination of cultural experiences from various channels, including Coke Studio, Sony, Colors, Zee, Doordarshan, and Star Plus.
To complete the cultural immersion, visitors can savor tasty snacks at the Rajasthani food stall, boasting an authentic menu prepared by skilled cooks.
Dastkari Haat Samiti invites customers, media, and craft lovers to contribute to sustaining India’s rural livelihoods and cultural heritage. Let’s make this festive season truly joyous for craft makers and buyers alike.
Event Details:
- Date: 1st-7th November
- Time: 11 am to 9 pm
- Venue: Dutch Palace, 16, Bund Garden Road, near Residency Club and INOX theatre, Pune-411001
