Bhutanese crafts show in Delhi

Bhutanese craftsmen are travelling to Delhi to showcase their skills in crafts in DASTKAR South Asian Bazaar where crafts from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan will also join.

The bazaar, to be held in association with Delhi Tourism, will offer an insight into the cultural heritage of the region, and showcase common, shared traditions that the nations have in weaving, block printing, leather, metal work, wood carving, crafting and terracotta products.

The bazaar will expose visitors to the craft of Pakistani ‘ajrakh’ block printing, which finds matching echoes in leather craftsmen from Rajasthan and Kutch. Phulkari from Punjab will be juxtaposed with works from Sindh and Afghanistan, and Shibori tie-dye and indigo dyeing from Bangladesh will vie with Indian bandhni and laheria.

Six women, who worked in the craft and development sector, founded Dastkar in 1981 and its aim is to help craftsmen, especially women, use their own traditional craft skills as a means of employment, income generation and economic self-sufficiency.

The bazaar will be open Aug 23-Sep 1 at Nature Bazaar, Andheria Mode between 11 a.m and 8 p.m.