Exhibition of Indian, Japanese handicrafts, apparels in city hotel

SHILLONG: Labour Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh inaugurated an exhibition-cum-sale of Indian and Japanese apparels and decorative items, made by women, in a city hotel here on Saturday.
Ampareen, while addressing the women at Hotel Grace, said the display of neatly handcrafted clothing and decorative items speaks volumes about women empowerment. There were sarees and jainsems, table mats, dolls and purses on display.
“Women are creative and it is important to involve them in arts and craft as it will keep them occupied and make them happy,” the minister said as she admired the exhibits.
The organizer of the exhibition, Devi Dhar, also a dancer and teacher at her academy ‘Nitya Malancha’, told The Shillong Times that some of the colours were extracted from a paste made from peacock’s feathers.
Papia Biswas, one of Dhar’s students, said, “It took 3-4 months to get everything prepared which includes the design, and colour.”
Some of the students are pursuing their academic studies and are hopeful of making arts and craft skills a career option in the future. The exhibition is on till Sunday.