Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: Handloom sellers in the city are a disappointed lot, with sales remaining sluggish at the state-sponsored Boyanika handloom fair that features hand-woven products from across the country.
The crowds were thin throughout the weekend at the fair that was held at Exhibition Ground, and Monday, the last day of the fair, too saw a tepid response from customers.
“In the National Handloom Fair, starting from Tuesday, we make a business of at least `5 lakh every year within 20 days. But here at Boyanika, it’s been ten days and we are still struggling to earn `50,000,” said Malinga, who was guarding the Tamil Nadu stall at the fair. The stall has hand-woven bed-sheets selling for `630, Malinga said, expressing surprise as to why such quality products were not finding buyers despite being priced so attractively.
Next to the Tamil Nadu stall sat Lucknow’s stall with suits, kurtis, anarkali frocks and other garments unique to the city of the nawabs. “This year’s sales have not been up to the mark. We didn’t make the profit we hoped to,” said Md Naseer Siddiqui. Naseer’s shop had anarkali suits costing `1,440 and had dress items within the range of `350 to 450.
The Orissa stall didn’t fare much better. “It’s bad, very bad for us. I don’t know why people are giving the Orissa stall a miss when we have blankets and shawls at affordable prices. Whatever crowds we see here is because of the book fair that is going on nearby,” said Deepak Nayak of Orissa handloom stall.
It was the same story for the Rajasthani artisans who have come in the hope of making a profit. “Our products are mostly embroidered dress materials for girls and boys made in Rajasthani style which people wish to wear only during festivals. Business has been lukewarm,” said Santosh Patel.
The exception among the stalls was Jammu and Kashmir’s, which attracted most of the crowds. Its sellers too were busy dealing with customers. From ‘Pashmina’ shawls to ‘Gulposh’, the J&K stall had a lot to offer for women buyers. “We also have Malkha, a hand-woven Kashmiri blanket. Business has been good for us and there is a lot of demand for Kashmiri products,” said Yasir Manzoor from Srinagar.
Manzoor said an authentic Pashmina shawl can cost as much as `50,000, and said some can go up to as much as `5 lakh, which are mostly sold overseas.
