I had recently read in the papers about Harshakala, the handloom expo happening from 11th Feb to 3rd March that showcases various handloom products from different parts of our country that the Ministry of Textiles, Karnataka is sponsoring.
Here is the thing – I love fabrics… I even have happy dreams of being surrounded by racks and racks of fabrics in colours and prints and patterns and feel… ah! What a happy thought…. Well anyways, when an aunt of mine asked me and my mom to accompany her to the Harshakala expo… I was jumping up and down with joy.
Firstly, you find the most unusual fabrics in such places. Secondly, there is always the additional discount! Yay!! And finally, if you are into fashion, fabric, their history and other nuances… these places are always educational.
The expo’s theme this year is Confluence of Traditional Weaves. Consequently, there are exhibitors from Kashmir to Coimbatore; Rajasthan to Varanasi. The central focus is on the silk handlooms of Karnataka. There is this special stall where you find the different stages in sericulture (the process of making silk) – from harvesting the silk worms, unravelling the cocoons, drawing silk strands, dying the threads to the handloom. There is an actual silk handloom at the expo and a worker was actually weaving a fabric when I went!
The main thing that struck me about this exhibition was its enormity. It is a really huge exhibition for a textile exhibition. There are at least 80-100 stalls, each one showcasing some different aspect of handloom. From the Calcutta cotton dresses to the block prints of Gujarat; from the brocade and embroidered fabrics of Varanasi to the towels and bedspreads of Coimbatore… Its so difficult to find some of these fabrics otherwise. I was feeling like I should pick up something from each stall. (I didn’t… I am trying to be frugal this year :()
There are fabulous Pashmina stoles (Rs. 5000 onwards! For a shawl! OMG!!), very cute Lucknawi chikan work tops (Rs 250 each… I bought two 😐 … :D), interesting sarees (from ikats to kanta work) and loads of upholstery and furnishing fabrics. My favourite stall in the entire expo is that of a Rajasthani patch work… there are bags and bedspreads; quilts and cushion covers… all in beautiful and rich embroidery; some with really gorgeous traditional elephant and camel appliqués! (Ok… so I bought one bedspread… really really pretty… expensive but exquisite… and I love it!! No idea where and when I’ll use it… but its divine!).
So if you get a chance to go there, it is at the Government Arts College Ground till the 3rd of March. Otherwise… there is always the next time… or the next expo…
Harshakala
Timings: 10:00 hrs to 21:00 hrs
Venue: Government Arts College Ground, Opposite Central College, Dr BR Ambedkar Veedhi KR Circle
– Bella
3 of Spades 