Few takers for ‘real India’ products at Shilp Bazaar in Ludhiana

To promote handicrafts from the different states of India and to boost craftsmanship, the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India in association with SS Memorial Education Society, Sri Chamkaur Sahib, Rupnagar, has organided a 10-day Gandhi Shilp Bazaar in Ludhiana. The exhibition received a lukewarm response from the residents. Artisans from other states are not able to understand why people had stopped taking interest in the ‘real India’ products, which were available at nominal rates.

The main attractions of the exhibition include, Phulkari from Punjab, handloom from Panipat, stone work from Agra, block printing work from Jaipur, handmade paintings from Jaipur, carpets from Uttar Pradesh, leather items from Agra, crochet from Andhra Pradesh, artificial flowers from Kolkata, bangles from Ferozabad, sheesham wood work from Saharanpur, etc.

Harsh Vivek Dhand, from SS Memorial Education Society said the artisans’ morale was not boosted as they did not get a good response here. “These products come directly from the artisans and are available at reasonable prices still the footfall was too thin. Otherwise, we hear exhibitions in Ludhiana draw large crowds. One reason for the low footfall can be the online shopping and other reason is that most of the elite people show interest in leading brands only,” Dhand said.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles to promote the artisans. About 60-70 exhibitors from all over India are here to display their products.