Nothing new to offer,visitors not amused,sky dine the lone saviour

Formally set rolling by UT Administrator General S F Rodrigues (Retd) on Saturday morning at Kalagram,the 10-day fair brings together as many as 150 award-winning craftsmen and their wares along with performing artistes from across the country. The first sights to greet you are the tall earthy gates,replicas of the likes of Sanchi Stupa,and Haryanvi folk singers. The open grounds of Kalagram have been commendably utilised making for an open and easy to walk through affair.

Fabricated ethnic huts are dotted all over offering crafts that range from handloom weaves to handmade artefacts,beaded jewellery to clay pottery,paper flowers to paper mache products,cane baskets to crotchet garments—it’s all here,but all too familiar as well.  

“Since the city hosts state exhibitions through the year,there’s nothing new on offer as far as the crafts go,” said Neeru Gahlot,a Manimajra-based homemaker,who trooped in with her family to check out the inaugural day.

The only unfamiliar sight was the sky dining experience brought to the city by CCPL Hospitality Ltd that hoisted a dinner table high up in the skies with select few invitees.

The shopping experience apart,keeping the visitors company were cultural performances courtesy the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) and those from the event’s theme state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Though a day ago,officials from the J&K were miffed about not being given due importance,all that seems to have been sorted out.

“We had been arguing for a better showcase of our products and better publicity of our tie-up with the city. General Rodrigues has given us assurance that all that would be looked into,” said Dr Javaid Rahi,Deputy Secretary to Jammu and Kashmir State Academy of Art,Culture and Languages.

Given the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is the theme state,one is greeted by huge shikaras housed in the middle of Kalagram. Also there’s an entire row of stalls dedicated to Kashmiri crafts offering the likes of pure Pashmina shawls and stoles. While the inaugural evening saw artistes from the state entertain the gathering by way of folk dances and presentations,it is the food court with CITCO da Vehra and a special ‘Wazwan’ counter that had the city’s foodies lining up.

“I tried the kahwa and will go for the chaman rice now,” smiled Amit Juneja,a student of SD College,who came with his friends.

With an intent to give the mela a permanent slot on the cultural calendar of Chandigarh,the next nine days will up the activity level with a wide variety of cultural programmes including folk dances,a Qawwali Nite,Bharatnayam performance,being planned out for each day. It’s now over to the tricity for making the most of it.