Hand-woven cotton is a huge draw at Dastkar
SUMMER WEAR More than 50 artisans from across the country are showcasing their weaves here till April 20
NEW DELHI: The shops are abuzz with female customers. Some want to buy cotton kurtas to beat the summer heat. Others search for colourful dupattas. Shopkeepers, who are popular as weavers, smile while trying to sell their hand-embroidered works. A male weaver in his 30s sits on a loom and starts working on a white cotton yarn. Slowly, the cotton threads start taking form.
These are the weavers who have come from different parts of India to display and sell their regional textile products at Nature Bazaar at Andheria Modh. The exhibition-cum-sale is called Summer Weaves- 2015 and is being held by Dastkar in association with Delhi Tourism till April 20. More than 50 artisans have set up shop for the event.
As loudspeakers constantly remind the customers, there is no bargaining. Each hand-woven garment has a unique design and a story behind its making. Apart from selling their hand-woven works, weavers also give live demonstrations to customers.
Ahtashamuddin is a 28-yearold weaver, works on a large handloom, with colourful cotton threads strewn on the floor. As he starts working, the noise of the charkha fills the air and attracts curious on-lookers. The cotton threads slowly start being woven together into a shape. A few hours later, a cotton bedcover emerges out of the loom.
Ahtashamuddin comes from a family of weavers from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. His grandfather was a famous weaver to whom every villager came for cotton kurtas. His skills were passed down from father to son. “I make kurtis, stoles, saris, bedcovers and mattresses. Some of my hand-woven materials are also exported to other states,” he said.
Vijaya Lakshmi, 40, is from Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. After finishing her household chores, she sits with her family members and weaves silk saris, cotton kurtis and fabric dress materials. A gifted weaver since childhood, she likes it when her hand-woven dresses are sold in front of her eyes. She has come to Delhi for the first time. When customers visit her shop, she smiles and shows off her hard work. Years of experience at bargaining with customers has made her speak fluently in English.
Ramesh Kumar Harsh, 47, is a weaver from Rajasthan. He has been coming to showcase his works at Nature Bazaar for more than 10 years. Apart from weaving for an earning his livelihood, he also provides employment to womenfolk across Rajasthan. These women weave clothes sell their works to weavers like Ramesh. Who, in turn, displays these works in various exhibitions across the country.
As the weavers have different varieties of dress materials to offer, female customers visit in huge number. The rush is witnessed mostly in the evenings. “I liked the collection of kurtis they have. It’s good to buy these cotton materials since summer is here!” said 28-year-old Shruti Srivastava, a resident of Vasant Kunj.
“We do not get these hand-woven materials in Delhi markets. I bought two kurtas and my mother has got a cotton duppatta,” said 29-year-old Neha Tiwari of Hauz Khas.
So, if you are anywhere near Andheria Modh, we would suggest you visit and immerse yourself in the rich and beautiful Indian traditions.
APART FROM SELLING THEIR HAND-WOVEN WORKS, WEAVERS ALSO GIVE LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON THEIR LOOMS.
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