From Our Special
Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sep 11: Ethically sourced Ryndia silk from Meghalaya drew the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited the state’s stall at Pragati Maidan here on Monday.
Modi interacted with the team at the Meghalaya stall set up during the G20 summit and showed interest in silk that syncs with the sustainable development goals (SDG) of climate action, women empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
Apart from the handicrafts of the Tourism Department’s Meghalayan Age, the Department of Textiles and C&RD, through the brands “Ryndia” and “Tribal Weaves” represented the state at the G20 International Crafts Bazaar, an exhibition-cum-sale from September 8.
FR Kharkongor, the commissioner and secretary for Textiles and C&RD initially led the team comprising officials of the Textiles Department.
The crafts bazaar showcased handicraft products from different parts of India with a special focus on One District One Product (ODOP), GI-tagged items and products crafted by women and tribal artisans. Delegates and international media persons who participated in the summit visited this bazaar and purchased locally sourced products.
The exhibition was organized by the G20 Secretariat in coordination with the Ministry of Textiles and state and UT governments. Some 30 states and UTs as well as central agencies such as Khadi Village & Industries Commission, TRIFED, and Saras Ajeevika participated in the craft show.
Artisans, including national awardees from across the country, offered live demonstrations of their art and craft. These demonstrations covered various genres such as lac bangles from Rajasthan, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, Thanjavur paintings from Tamil Nadu, and mud mirror work from Gujarat.
To exhibit the exceptional handicraft and handloom items from the North East, a ‘Focus North East’ stall was set up in coordination with the North-Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation. Dipika Lyngdoh gave an overview of Eri silk fabric dresses from Meghalaya, explaining the steps involved in meticulously crafting these dresses by Meghalaya’s talented designers.
The PM tweeted about Meghalaya’s silk after his visit to the stall.
Besides silk, bamboo and cane crafts of Meghalaya were on display and attracted huge crowds. Products from Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland were also showcased.