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Bhubaneswar, Sept 11: The spread of items at the ongoing crafts fare, Cottonfab, includes one particularly attractive array of stalls. These have on display a variety of ceramic ware crafted in Uttar Pradesh.
One of the more popular stalls is being run by Anas Khan, a native of Khurja. “My father Anis Khan had started this business in our hometown. We have our own ceramic factory which employs more than 40 people. My father has received the state award for his innovative ceramic ware and my maternal uncle Rayisuddin won the national award for the craft in 2006. I have learnt this craft from them but am largely involved in marketing,”
Anas said.
The craftsman says all the products at his stall are handmade. He focuses on innovation in terms of design, style and texture. “There was a time when all ceramic products followed the same patterns. But now there are different kinds of ceramic ware such as glazed
and matte.”
Anas’s stall has items such as dinner and tea sets, pickle jars, wind chimes, flower pots, basil stands, and decorative vases among other things ranging in prices from Rs20 to Rs8,000.
“This is our sixth year in Bhubaneswar and whenever we visit the city we receive good response from the customers. Ceramic ware never goes out of fashion. We hope to do more business in the coming weeks.”
Gopal Krushna Rath, a painter and ceramic artiste from the city, said: “All the ceramic products available in the exhibition are really good. Prices are also reasonable. I liked the finish of the products.”
Chintamani Biswal, another artiste, said: “The texture and style of the ceramic ware at the show is brilliant. I liked the wind chimes in particular. It is good that ceramic artistes are also experimenting with products and not confining themselves to traditional ware.”