A field better known for local football matches turned into a marketplace of woven cane and bamboo on Saturday, as a traveling “Swadeshi Mela” opened here with artisans from India’s northeastern states displaying their work in what organizers described as the first event of its kind in West Bengal.
The fair, mounted at the Friends Union ground, was inaugurated by Sukanta Majumdar, the Union minister of state for education and development of the North Eastern Region. Surrounded by officials, he lit a ceremonial lamp and walked the rows of stalls where craftsmen had arranged baskets, furniture, lampshades and decorative pieces.
Artisans representing Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur were among those taking part. Roughly 25 stalls lined the grounds, many draped in bright fabrics, with sellers explaining how everyday materials from forest and field could be shaped into both utility items and art.The exhibition is scheduled to run through Wednesday.
In remarks after the opening, Mr. Majumdar said the fair had been organized with the support of agencies working under the ministry for the development of the northeastern region. He described those bodies as crucial to helping artisans become self-reliant, particularly in trades built around bamboo and cane.
He also said efforts were underway to extend similar support locally. With assistance from those agencies, he added, authorities were planning training camps aimed at helping craftspeople in the district strengthen their skills and livelihoods.
The afternoon program expanded beyond the fair itself. With support from Indian Oil Corporation, about 80 people with disabilities from the district received motorized and hand-operated tricycles. Hearing aids were also distributed to some beneficiaries, and the minister said he would work to ensure that no eligible resident was left out of future assistance.
As speeches concluded, the crowd moved toward the stalls. Families examined finely woven trays and chairs; some paused to ask about prices, others left with purchases tucked under their arms. For the visiting artisans, it was both a sales opportunity and a chance to introduce traditions from distant states to new audiences.By evening, the hum of bargaining mixed with curiosity and admiration — a small-town fair animated by the textures of another region, briefly brought within reach.
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