Traditional Crafts, textiles exhibition in Colaba from today

The annual Paramparik Karigar exhibition of traditional Indian crafts and textiles will begin at the Colaba museum on Wednesday, and will be accompanied by a series of workshops in at least ten indigenous arts, taught by the karigars (craftsmen) themselves.

The annual Paramparik Karigar exhibition of traditional Indian crafts and textiles will begin at the Colaba museum on Wednesday, and will be accompanied by a series of workshops in at least ten indigenous arts, taught by the karigars (craftsmen) themselves.

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The exhibition and sale of traditional arts and crafts such as Maharashtra’s bidri work and leather puppet work from Andhra Pradesh will be held from August 31 to September 3. Textiles such as Rajasthani lehriya and Kashmiri woollen shawls will be exhibited and sold from September 6 to 9.

Both exhibitions will be held in the Coomaraswamy Hall at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), formerly known as the Prince of Wales museum.

The workshops will be conducted from August 31 to September 10 at the museum’s Visitor’s Centre. The day-long sessions will include classes in pottery, madhubani and Gond painting and badhani work.

“The exhibitions give indigenous craftsmen the opportunity to bring forth their unique talents to the city public,” said Gopi Shah, a member of the managing committee of Paramparik Karigar, which was launched in 1996 as an association of traditional craftsmen from across the country.

“The workshops they conduct are meant to encourage young people to appreciate these arts and take them up vocationally.”

Paramparik Karigar now has 70 artisan members who work towards the promotion and preservation of at least 54 traditional crafts. Besides workshops at the museum, the craftsmen this year will also hold workshops in institutions such as JB Petit School and Nirmala Niketan.

(Exhibition timing: 10.30 am to 6.30 pm. To register for the crafts workshops contact the Museum at 22844484. Last minute registrations will also be accepted.)