Making art at the museum

Telecom professional Arpita Tyagi, 26, flashes paint-stained hands and a large smile as she shows off her work for the day — carnations made from crepe paper, a clay pot and a card covered in block-printed scraps of cloth.

Telecom professional Arpita Tyagi, 26, flashes paint-stained hands and a large smile as she shows off her work for the day — carnations made from crepe paper, a clay pot and a card covered in block-printed scraps of cloth.

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Tyagi decided to take a break from her high-stress job and tag along with children from NGO Salaam Baalak Trust, where she volunteers, to the special, No TV Day ‘craft mela’ organised at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj museum at Kala Ghoda.

She was among a total of 3,000 people — families with children, couples, art lovers and senior citizens — who decided to spend their Saturday with the TV off, and creativity on.

“I’ve had such a good time today,” said Tyagi, smiling. “I feel like I’ve been transported back to my childhood.”

The special craft fair included workshops on clay modelling, shell-painting, origami, block printing and paper flower making, all taught by students of museology at the museum.

As a special No TV Day offer, children under 12 were admitted for free.

“We want people to participate in activities at the museum, and thought No TV Day was the perfect opportunity,” said museum director Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

Vasudha Mohanka, a 28-year-old social worker, said the most important thing he learned was how to have fun. “I used to paint as a kid, but then lost touch with it,” said Mohanka. “Now, I’ve decided to do this at least once a month.”