SHILLONG: The ongoing Gandhi Shilpi Bazaar – an all India Mega Exhibition cum Sale of handicrafts products, such as, artistic textiles, terracotta, artistic jewelry, cane and bamboo products, embroidery items, saris among many other items have drawn an average crowd, opined stall owners. The event held at State Central Library premises is organized by Meghalaya Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, a stall owner from Assam said that the response from the crowd is not that good. “There is not enough crowd coming into this exhibition. I participated in the International Trade Fair in the Fire Brigade Ground here last time which drew a big crowd,” said A Mandal whose stall deals with cane, bamboo and jute products. Mandal’s father has received an award from former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam for his immense talent in bamboo products and has also participated in exhibitions and trade fairs all over the country and Thailand. Mandal’s bamboo products are known for their striking designs.
Informing that his father is presently organizing training workshops in bamboo products, he said that one of his jute bags was selected by RGIIM, Shillong during the last international trade fair following which he received an order for 300 bags.
A ladies shoe stall owner from Rajasthan, participating for the first time, lost customers due to sizes. “Our sizes are bigger and do not match to the local demands here but our products are weather proof. We will come back again with the right sizes,” said the salesman.
The worst affected is a sari stall owner from West Bengal. The proprietor of the stall fumed, “Where is the publicity? There is no publicity as none knows about this exhibition. The response and sale is zero,” she said adding that the locals who thronged her stall yearned for local products as they are unaware about the theme of the exhibition. L Singh from Manipur whose stall deals in spades and knives of various sizes is comparatively happier than other stalls in the exhibition. Mr Singh said that the response for his spades is pretty good, so far. He is also echoed by a marble and porcelain product dealer who said that there is demand for his designer products.
The biggest crowd puller is an artistic jewelry from Tamil Nadu which displayed necklaces of various designs, earrings, finger rings, bangles for both sexes among many other imitation items including products of religious beliefs.
Besides these, there are also stalls for bamboo and cane furniture, small bamboo items for displaying and hanging, gifting and much more. The exhibition also have few local stalls dealing in local turmeric powder, handicraft items, local knives and spades, Nagaland shawls, baskets of various sizes among others.