A tryst with traditional handicrafts

KalamkariThe stall has most things from sarees to bed sheets to kurtas and dress materials. It also has Kalamkari patch-work that can be stitched onto garments. The material comes from Pedana near Machlipatnam which is famously known for sourcing Kalamkari. Price ranges start as low as Rs 180 and climb up to Rs 500 -Rs 700. Sarees start at Rs 500 while bags are available for even Rs 70.Looking GlassNot something that one would find very often, the stall has a range of telescopes, compasses and watch pieces. Coming from Roorkee, the replicas are neatly done and are good showcase pieces if nothing else.A large telescope hoisted on a stand will cost one about Rs 2,200 while the small table top time pieces with a magnified glass and photo frame behind costs about Rs 850. Sundials in different sizes for about Rs 700 and pocket watches priced at Rs 500 are also available.Leather goodsThere are different stalls with leather shoes, bags and pouches sourced from Rajasthan and Calcutta.Shantiniketan from Calcutta has put up a stall selling bags in different sizes, coin pouches, key chains, wallets of different capacities and sizes, and handy make up and jewellery boxes. The prices range from Rs 250 for a small handy bag to Rs 400 for a shoulder hand bag, Rs 40 for a small coin pouch and Rs 60 for a slightly bigger one. Sleek zip pouches for paper money cost around Rs 80- Rs 120. Shoe makers from Rajasthan have a variety of hand made shoes that sport hand stitched thread work and metal wire embroidery in soft gold and bronze-ish dirty brown. Prices range from Rs 250 to Rs 600.PuppetsSourced from Jaipur, the puppets are traditionally designed stuffed figures of a village woman and a man, either in a dance or embrace. The puppets also double as wall hangings, the utility for which they are mostly designed.Stitched in bright colours of red, green and blue, they surely add a splash of colour to any room.UmbrellasNow don’t lose interest just at the look of it. These umbrellas are sure to make you take a second look. Made from cloth with a prism portrayal of colours, the shade-providers are quaint. They are decorated with sequins and multi colour threads on a patchworks of different coloured cloths. The umbrellas which also come all the way from Jaipur, are true to the Pink city’s repute. Priced at `200, these umbrellas are quite the accessory.Dried flowersShipped in from Assam, there is an assortment of dried flowers, pine cones, dried leaves, net flowers and dried ferns. Now, dried flowers are not that exclusive any more, but these are flowers that have been kept in their natural state without any added colours, giving a very rustic and earthy feel. The flowers are also sold with bamboo vases that are priced between Rs 150- Rs 200 a piece. The flowers are sold starting from Rs 10 and go on till about Rs 25 a stalk. The bigger pine cones cost Rs 25 while the smaller ones (which are coloured) cost Rs 10.