Shyamhari Chakra
Celebrating the legacy of exquisite and indigenous Indian toys, Hunar Haat, the country-wide mobile market series of craft-cuisine-culture initiated by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, would be back after a pause of six months.
The ongoing pandemic caused the halt of this immensely popular event series.
The next Hunar Haat has been slated for Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh from October 9 to 18 followed by Jaipur in Rajasthan (Oct Oct –Nov 1), Chandigarh (Nov 7- 15), Indore (Nov 21 to 29), Mumbai (Dec 22 to 31) Hyderabad (8 to 17 January 2021), Lucknow (23 to 31 January), India Gate, New Delhi (13 to 21 February), Ranchi (20 to 28 February), Kota (5 to 14 March) and Surat or Ahmedabad in Gujarat (20 to 27 March), the Ministry has announced.
The Prayagraj edition of the Haat will highlight the rich Indian indigenous toy tradition. About one-third of the stalls will be earmarked for the artisans who prepare indigenous toys, the Ministry has explained.
“Every corner of the country has a traditional and ancestral legacy of indigenous toys. This legacy, which was on the verge of extinction, has got a boon after Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi pitched for Swadeshi Toys. The Indian toy industry has got tremendous boost after the call for Vocal for Local Toys”, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stated.
The Haat will showcase exquisite toys made by the master artisans from across the country in a wide variety of mediums like wood, brass, bamboo, glass, cloth, paper and clay.
Hunar Haat initiative has provided employment and employment opportunities to above five lakh Indian artisans, craftsmen, culinary experts and other people associated with them during the past five years, the Ministry claimed.
In view of the pandemic, the Ministry has made arrangements for buyers to get Hunar Haat products online. Union Minority Affairs Ministry is registering these artisans and their indigenous products on “GeM” (Government e Marketplace).
Several export promotion councils have also shown interest to provide international markets at large scale for handmade indigenous products of these artisans and craftsmen, the Ministry sources said.
