Shilpgram Festival
A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.
:Mohandas Gandhi
For a rich cultural retreat I after a light breakfast drove to Shilpgram, the handicraft village located 3 km west of Udaipur. I am no weight-watcher and my sole aim of having a light breakfast was to keep some space for the traditional Rajasthani food available in the mela. The village is a wonderful destination displaying diverse range of arts and crafts heritage of the incredible land of Rajasthan and few other Indian states. Sprawling over an area of 70 acres, Shilpgram is set amidst natural surroundings surrounded by the Aravalli hills. When I entered the handicraft village, I felt as if I had stepped into a land overflowing with color and tradition. The styled handicrafts complementing each other reflect absolute creations.
It was really great to treat my eyes to glimpse of the overwhelming craftsmanship and culture of India. My guide told me that Shilpgram provides a platform to urban and rural artists from various states of the country to showcase their brilliant arts and crafts. I stopped at one of the stalls where beautiful leather items were displayed. Striking a conversation with the owner of the stall, I asked him how do they make such wonderful handicrafts. How kind of him, sparing some time for me he told me quite a lot about the process and all. Truly a great deal of hard word goes behind such beautiful handicrafts. I bought a camel leather bag and after thanking that nice chap moved ahead.
I passed through several stalls selling a variety of handicrafts such as hand woven clothes, embroidered fabrics, colorful pots, silver jewelery etc. I bought some items for my friends and relatives thinking that they would really love it as such things are not easily available in a metropolitan city like Delhi where they live. My guide also told me that the handicrafts available here are not only known for their beauty but also for quality.
After buying and seeing such a mesmerizing collection of handicrafts, I and my guide sat down to pamper our taste buds with Rajasthani culinary delights.
Literally meaning a “Craftsmen’s Village” is a living ethnographic museum depicting the enormous diversities in craft, art & culture between various Indian states, but the exquisite terracotta work mainly in dark red and dark brown sand material along with the wooden carvings are the forte of this ethnic village . Shilpgram comprises 26 huts set in 70 acres of natural surroundings at the foot of the Aravali Hills.A colourful craft festival during winter seasons to the whole set up induces viatanity and zeal.
Situated 3 kms west of Udaipur near the Havala village is the Centre’s Shilpgram – the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex. Spread over an undulating terrain of 130 bighas (70 Acres) of land and surrounded by the Aravallies, the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is conceived as a living enthnographic museum to depict the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of the West Zone. Within this complex, huts of the member states are constructed incorporating traditional architectural features of different geographical and ethnic groups residing within the West Zone of India comprising of five Federal States.
