Srinagar, March 24:(KNS) Pahalgam Kashmir: Pahalgam will play host to a “craft mela” a unique handicraft & handloom exhibition showcasing the exquisite art and craft of Kashmir. The exhibition has been put together jointly by the o/o Development Commissioner Handlooms Government of India & Directorate of Handicrafts & Handlooms Kashmir.
The Director Handicrafts & Handlooms Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah inaugurated the exhibition in presence of the officers of the District Administration including Pahalgam Development Authority. Speaking on the occasion the Director H&H Kashmir expressed that the Exhibition will give artisans a suitable marketing platform to sell their beautiful products directly to the buyers and will give the tourists visiting Pahalgam an opportunity to get a glimpse of the rich art and craft of Kashmir.
The Director expressed that this exhibition will appeal to the connoisseur and the consumer alike as our skilled artisans have been giving creative expression to their rich folklore through this medium from centuries.
The special attraction of the ongoing exhibition that is attracting the visitors is the live demonstration of the various crafts including spinning and Kani and setting up of theme pavilion by Weavers Service Centre, Srinagar.
The 14-day exhibition will showcase the finest crafts from Kashmir including Pashmina, Kani and other crafts. Pahalgam Exhibition is the fourth physical exhibition of the year 2022 that has been organized by the Department of H&H Kashmir within the UT this year. The department is conscious of the fact that the inventory of the artisans has piled up due to COVID pandemic and platforms like this will be provided to the artisans both within and outside the UT so as to sell their products.
The Department is also participating in a big way in the ongoing SurajKund Crafts Mela at Haryana which commenced from 19thMarch 2022.
Department is also currently holding another exhibition at Tulip Garden Srinagarthat commenced from 23rdMarch 2022 and is attracting a large numbers tourists towards itself. The said exhibition was inaugurated by Chief Secretary JK UT , Dr Arun Kumar Mehta .
The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Shri Deeraj Kumar Gupta , Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department and Shri Ranjan Parkash Thakur, Commissioner Secretary ,Industries & Commerce Department.
The Chief Secretary inspected the Stalls and interacted with the grass root level artisans who have been provided the rent free space by the Department of Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir to sell their products directly to the buyers at this prestigious spot.
The Chief Secretary gave on spot instructions to increase the number of the stalls so as to accommodate more artisans who intend to set up their stalls at this potential site. Director Handicrafts & Handloom Kashmir ,Mahmood Ahmad Shah apprised the visiting dignitary about the efforts the Department is currently doing to link the artisans directly with the buyers. He gave a brief about the current physical events in which the Department is participating ,the most important being the Suraj Kund Event that is currently going on at Haryana in which J&K is participating as a Theme Partner and the other events being the India Carpet Show at Noida, Special Handicrafts & Handloom Expo at Gulmarg and Pahalgam.(KNS)