Bangalore Dastkar Bazaar 2025 will held in the city later this month

Bangalore Dastkar Bazaar 2025 will be held in the city later this month

Bangalore Dastkar Bazaar 2025 will feature crafts, workshops, cultural events and food. “They are all aimed at celebrating culture, cuisines and crafts of India,” says Shelly Jain, Senior Director- Programmes Project and Personnel, Dastkar, over a call from Delhi.  

Dastkar bazaar brings over 160 craft groups from across 25 states of India, with a mix of products, traditions and skills, including third-and fourth generation craftsmen and some award winning artisans.

Textiles will include cotton Jamdani, soof, aari, kantha, batik, bandhani, indigo block printing and more. “We have also always been environmentally conscious, looking at promoting sustainable products, so there will be products made from natural materials like mat, cane, golden grass and sabai grass,” adds Shelly. There will also be crafts in bell metal, leather puppet, lacquer toys, gourd and wood carving, pottery.

The folk arts section will feature Pichwai, Pattachitra, Bhil, Gond, Kalighat, Tanjore, and Madhubani Painting, while patrons seeking organic products can look to stalls with millet snacks, essential oils, perfumery, flavoured teas and herbal beauty products.

The Purulia Chhau dance, a masked martial arts dance form from Jharkhand, will be presented on the weekend. Dastkar, was established in 1981, focussing on empowering traditional Indian craftspeople and crafts by bridging the gap between traditional rural artisans and contemporary urban consumers.

“We strive to strengthen and support them, act as consultants, trainers, designers, and resource providers to craft groups. We are bringing 20 new craft groups to Bengaluru this year including a lacquer bangle maker, who will demonstrate his work, and an embroidery group from Gujarat.”

An added attraction is Karvati saris on tussar, says Shelly. “This craft from Maharashtra is on the verge of extinction. Craftsmen do not want their children to take to the craft due to livelihood challenges. The entire belt in Maharashtra refuses to encourage their youngsters or even pass on the knowledge of the crafts. We have started new projects with other group to keep the craft from going extinct.”