After overwhelming response for the Gujarat Handicrafts Utsav last year, the Industrial Extension Cottage (INDEXT-C), a Government of Gujarat organisation, in association with JSS Urban Haat, will be organising ‘Gujarat Handicrafts Utsav-2017’ for the second time at JSS Urban Haat, Hebbal Industrial Area, Mysuru, from June 29 to July 9.

The Utsav, which will be open  from 10 am to 9 pm every day, will be inaugurated today (June 29) at 4 pm by MP Pratap Simha. MLA G.T. Devegowda will preside. DIC-Mysuru Joint Director Ramakrishne Gowda, Prajavani Bureau Chief K.J. Mariyappa, JSS Technical Education Division Director (P&D) Dr. C. Ranganathaiah, JSS Technical Education Division Joint Director (Projects) B.R. Umakant, Handicrafts Marketing & Service Centre (Ministry of Textiles) Assistant Director Sashidhar, Indext-C (Gujarat) Manager R.S. Gajjar and Indext-C (Gujarat) Marketing Manager Dr. S.D. Makwana will be the chief guests.

Indext-C Executive Director Y.P. Jhoshi has, in a press release, appealed the craft-loving people of Mysuru to visit the expo and motivate the artisans by purchasing their artefacts, which will provide much-needed livelihood to them.

Craft of Gujarat is an initiative started by the Gujarat Government to promote handicraft products which are produced by the artisans. The products can be of different types which includes decorative items, embroidery clothes, leather work, bandhani, hand-block printing and many more. The Gujarat Government started this under the INDEXT-C scheme.

More than 50 master and creative artisans of Gujarat are participating in this exhibition and will demonstrate and sell their rich art & crafts like Bandhani (Tie & Dye), Kutchhi Embroidery, Handloom Products, Bamboo crafts, Jute items, Coir products, Agate items, Navarathri special Chania Choli, Clay articles, Patch work, Bead work, Terracotta, Warli painting, eco-friendly jewellery  and many more. Gujarat also has a rich tradition of embroidery, leather work, bandhani and hand-block printing apart from unique Kutch embroidery.

Banni is a small village in the Rann of Kutch and is known for its artistic embroidery work. Small mirrors are interspersed to lend glitter and charm. The finest type of such embroidery work with small mirrors is also called Abhla-Bharat. This will be used when a bride is sent to her husband’s house.

Ivory in Gujarat is mostly used for inlay work. Bangles and sandal wood articles are inlaid with it.

Bead-work is a speciality of Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Junagadh. Decorative pieces like torans, chopat, carpets, caps and belts are some of the fine articles of bead-work.

City Bus [No.117/1] facility will be available from City Bus Stand to JSS Mysore Urban Haat. For details, contact Mob: 96866-77232 or 98445-50845 or 85534-16939.