New Delhi, 13 Feb.: In the ongoing Surajkund International Crafts Mela, the visitors are fascinated by Solapur District’s Wall Hangings and are thronging to visit all the three stalls to purchase these unique items of Home display.
The Handicraft sector is one of the major sector providing employment, this sounds true when we meet Shri Shrinivas Ambaji Jindam and his wife, Smt. Vijaylaxmi Jindam. Hailing from Solapur, they are here to sell their crafts, the Wall Hangings, a 40 year old venture they have been carrying out at Solapur. A Wall Hanging is a beautiful piece, hand woven with 100% cotton and supported by wooden rods in between. This is a unique display item, finding places in modern living rooms. It is woven by a skilled weaver with beautiful combination of cotton warp and weft, an exquisite technique of weaving found in Solapur District of Maharashtra.
Speaking to them will definitely boost up one's spirits. Shri Srinivas is an illiterate artisan. He was 12 when he started making Wall Hangings. Later he got married and his wife a class Xth failure, joined him in his Craft. They put in lot of hard work and with their dedication, today, they export their Craft. Sharing her experiences, Smt Vijaylaxmi becomes emotional. She says, ‘When they got married, they stayed in a 10 ft X 10 ft room with cowdung floor and corrugated sheets roof top ! However, today they have constructed a very big house and are very happy. But she takes pride when she says, her son is an Engineer and her daughter a Doctor. Adding further, she says, since now they are here to participate in the 33rd Surajkund International Crafts Mela, her ‘Doctor’ daughter has been taking care of the home as well as her clinic and all parceling of the packed bundles of Wall Hangings to them, seeing the huge demand from the visitors at Surajkund. While her Engineer Son is at Mumbai pursuing higher studies. The contentment in the couple’s eyes narrates her every stepping stone to success. Both the husband and wife are State Awardees and are put up on Stall number 250. They have a variety of Wall Hangings – Vithoba, Guru Nanak, Lord Ganesha, animated. Scenic with a combination of attracting color shades. The prices are reasonable from a small Wall Hanging costing Rs. 300/- to the biggest costing Rs.3000/-
The other two stalls are located at 382 and 970. The artisan placed at 382 Shri Madhukar S Methaku has a variety of Wall hangings. Apart from his craft he is selling handmade warli painted files, folders, bags, clutches, mobile purses, potlis, jewellery bags and travel bags. The visitors, especially the women customers are thronging at his stall. He is comfortable speaking in Hindi, for he has an experience of 20 years behind him.
The third ‘Wall Hanging’ stall is run by Shri Pravin Palmare, again from Solapur. Apart from ‘Wall Hangings’ he has diversified into making ‘Cotton suits’ which is a handloom product.
This Mela would last till 17th February. There are more than 1200 stalls and more than 2000 national and international artisans are here to showcase their handicrafts and handlooms.
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