Dastkari Haat Craft Bazaar begins in Delhi from Jan 1

More than 160 craftspeople from the villages, towns and cities of various parts of India will bring exciting craft talent and traditions in never-seen-before avatars along with wonderful craft skills from Egypt’s great and artistic civilization. Visitors will be able to interact, learn, appreciate and explore Indian and Egyptian handicrafts and textiles.

Craftspersons from Egypt have been invited to collaborate with Dastkari Haat Samiti which will conduct a skill training and exchange workshop of the same genre.  The entire fortnight’s collaboration will result in long term friendships and provide unique inputs to the crafts sector while enhancing economic well being and diplomatic ties at the ground level.

Egyptian’s embroidery tradition has evolved, like India’s over 5000 years.  Motifs are specialized according to regions. Each can be adapted according to any new design prototypes provided by good designers.

Hand-woven cloths in cotton are preferred for executing embroidery. East Asian links and Moghul influences have been imbibed in both India and Egypt.

Egyptian Crafts

Marble Inlay, Bead Work, Telli work, Leather work, Papier Machie, Weaving, Block Making, Natural Dyeing, Embroidery, Camel bone in the workshop.

Highlights of this year’s Dastkari Haat craft Bazaar 2014

Sadhna group from Rajasthan, Saasha group of Kantha from West Bengal, Sabala group from Karnataka, Embroidery of Punjab by Nabha Foundation and Embroidery from Artesania from Gujarat.

Live demonstration of the looms: more than 12 states will represent their weaving looms at Dilli Haat.

National and state-awardees from Bihar, Gujrat, Jammu Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and others will demonstrate their skills.

Workshops: wire toys, Madhubani paintings, Gond paintings, paper mache, thread jewelery making, puppet making, and pottery and bamboo items.

Folk and cultural performance: All days from 11am – 8.00pm

Folk music from Rajasthan, folk dance such as Kalbelia, Langa, Bhavai will be the main attraction. 

With an eclectic mix of national-awardees and artisans-in-training, the Samiti’s artisan-members are stars in their own right.  The opportunity provided by the Samiti has enabled many members to travel across the globe and collaborate with artisans in other developing nations, creating products that are utility-based and market-friendly.

Dastkari Haat Samiti and Dilli Haat were founded by Ms Jaya Jaitly, a renowned social and political activist who has dedicated four decades of her life and career to crafts and innovating newer ways to sustain craft and its people.

Ms. Jaitly and the Samiti have constantly challenged markets and created niche markets, enabling safe space for craftspeople and hence the dignity they truly deserve as producers and conservationists of India’s rich heritage.

Dastkari Haat