Dastkari Haat Samiti, the renowned platform for Indian artisans founded by cultural stalwart Jaya Jaitly, celebrates a decade of vibrant presence in Pune with the Dastkari Haat Craft Bazaar. This milestone event will be held from November 26 to December 2, 2024 at the Dutch Palace, 16 Bund Garden Road, opposite Residency Club and Inox Theatre, Pune. The bazaar, open daily from 11am to 8pm., invites visitors to experience India’s most exquisite crafts, bringing together the nation’s diverse artistic traditions under one roof.
What’s new in this year’s bazaar: This year, the bazaar will feature an exquisite showcase of craftsmanship, offering unparalleled inspiration for architects and interior designers. With around 110 stalls representing 20 states, the event will introduce several crafts to Pune for the first time, highlighting collaborations between artisans and the Samiti on innovative design projects. Visitors can explore a rich array of traditional crafts, including silk carpet weaving and crewel embroidery from Kashmir, mud-mirror work and leather craft from Gujarat, silver jewellery from Rajasthan, metal craft from Delhi, Kavad art from Rajasthan and banana fibre creations from Karnataka. Terracotta from Gujarat and Odisha, glazed pottery from New Delhi, iron craft from Chhattisgarh, ceramic craft from Gujarat, Surpur art from Karnataka, natural dye and weaving from Gujarat, Kantha embroidery and Gamcha weaving from West Bengal, velvet prints from Rajasthan and Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh will also be featured.
Craft Skills for Architects and Interior Designers: In addition, a stunning selection of textiles such as Bandhani, Ikkat, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Banarasi and Bagh prints will be on display, showcasing their versatility in applications that extend beyond garments to ceiling and wall panelling, including the iconic Parliament gallery designs. This year marks the setting up of an elevated ecosystem where architects, interiors and craftspersons can engage and potentially collaborate with each other. This curated collection celebrates the diversity and innovation of Indian craft, making it a must-visit for design enthusiasts.
Public Workshops: The Samiti provides artisans with the opportunity to engage directly with visitors through interactive workshops. These immersive sessions offer hands-on training in traditional crafts such as Madhubani painting (Bihar), Patachitra art (Odisha), Warli art (Maharashtra), Kalighat painting (West Bengal) and Gond painting (Madhya Pradesh). These workshops also aim to serve as a platform for architects and interior designers to connect with master artisans thus paving the way for potential collaborations. All architects and interior designers can reach out to us on Instagram to schedule a special guided walkthrough of the bazaar with our team.
“Dastkari Haat Samiti has always been about celebrating the boundless creativity and resilience of India’s artisans. The potential of craft lies beyond just holding bazaars. While they are for human interaction, education and reflect the spirit of joy, we want to continue to move towards more interesting collaborations with architects and designers, placing the artisan at the centre of it all. As we mark a decade in Pune, our aim is not only to showcase these incredible crafts but to inspire deeper connections and collaborations that will carry our legacy forward,” said Jaya Jaitly, Founder, Dastkari Haat Samiti.
