Bangalore Dastkar Bazaar 2025 will function crafts, workshops, cultural occasions and meals. “They are all aimed at celebrating culture, cuisines and crafts of India,” says Shelly Jain, Senior Director- Programmes Project and Personnel, Dastkar, over a name from Delhi.
Dastkar bazaar brings over 160 craft teams from throughout 25 states of India, with a mixture of merchandise, traditions and abilities, together with third-and fourth era craftsmen and a few award profitable artisans.
Textiles will embody cotton Jamdani, soof, aari, kantha, batik, bandhani, indigo block printing and extra. “We have also always been environmentally conscious, looking at promoting sustainable products, so there will be products made from natural materials like mat, cane, golden grass and sabai grass,” provides Shelly. There will even be crafts in bell steel, leather-based puppet, lacquer toys, gourd and wooden carving, pottery.
The people arts part will function Pichwai, Pattachitra, Bhil, Gond, Kalighat, Tanjore, and Madhubani Painting, whereas patrons searching for natural merchandise can look to stalls with millet snacks, important oils, perfumery, flavoured teas and natural magnificence merchandise.
The Purulia Chhau dance, a masked martial arts dance kind from Jharkhand, will be introduced on the weekend. Dastkar, was established in 1981, focussing on empowering conventional Indian craftspeople and crafts by bridging the hole between conventional rural artisans and up to date city customers.
“We strive to strengthen and support them, act as consultants, trainers, designers, and resource providers to craft groups. We are bringing 20 new craft groups to Bengaluru this year including a lacquer bangle maker, who will demonstrate his work, and an embroidery group from Gujarat.”
An added attraction is Karvati saris on tussar, says Shelly. “This craft from Maharashtra is on the verge of extinction. Craftsmen do not want their children to take to the craft due to livelihood challenges. The entire belt in Maharashtra refuses to encourage their youngsters or even pass on the knowledge of the crafts. We have started new projects with other group to keep the craft from going extinct.”
By encouraging designers to works with craft-persons on Karvati, Shelly says the hope is to create one thing interesting to individuals. “With many people choosing not wear saris, the demand has gone down. Those who still wear saris or traditional clothes, the price of handloom is a deterrent.”
Crafts-people, Shelley says put in lengthy hours of labor to create a cloth. “They too have a family to feed. Unless we work collectively and create a bridge, these aspects will always pose a challenge. The government should also take concrete steps in bettering these issues.”
Modernising instruments and methods and shortening the work course of, Shelly believes is perhaps the first steps to reviving the Karvati. “Designers should collaborate with craftspeople to create modern garments that everyone would want to wear. We need to look at not just sustaining the crafts, but also how we can keep the craft-person’s dream of giving their child an education.”
Children skilled in the household crafts, find yourself giving up on formal schooling, Shelly says as they take to the household enterprise at a young age. “Despite these challenges, I have noticed a growing interest in funky, modern designs in the crafts. We see this happening more in Delhi, while Bangaloreans veer towards the traditional as they are aware of its heritage. This is one reason why many crafts-people are keen to return to Bengaluru. This city embraces crafts and respects the artisans’ works, which boosts the artisan’s morale.”
The bazaar will embody workshops in Madhubani, Gondh and clay modelling for kids. “We also have waste paper craft, which aims at teaching craftsmanship with sustainability. Though we have a free entry, we charge a token amount for the workshops.”
Shelly has been with Dastkar for over 20 years. Though she had no inclination in direction of crafts, an opportunity encounter paved the means for her affiliation with Dastkar. “I learnt much by interacting with artisans on a daily basis, this made my problems look minimal. Talking to them and hearing about their struggles made me a good listener, and a solution-oriented person.”
With a nationwide attain encompassing over 700 craft teams and small producers throughout 25 Indian states, Shelly says Dastkar achieves its missions via collaborative efforts with governmental, non-governmental, and international businesses, serving as an advisor, useful resource individual, and incubator for craft teams.
Published – May 15, 2025 03:55 pm IST
