By Okram Bimol
IMPHAL, Jannuary 8: The on-going 8th Apex Craft Bazar at Naharol Sintha Kanglup Ground complex at Wangkhei Keithel Asangbi organized by the Manipur Apex Handloom Weaver and Handicrafts Artisan’s Ltd has provided a converging point for artisans of handloom and craftsmen to showcase their products t the public.
The mela inaugurated yesterday has not only provided a place where one can shop for various handloom and crafts products but also has a stall where one can avail health based facilities like acupuncture, detoxification and organic medicines made from plants and plant products.
Speaking to IFP, Pravin Saikhom, a professional artificial flower maker from Tilipati said he trained under a firm called Shandhya Florist in Kolkata for six months, after which he started his own small enterprise in the state.
“My aim is to give satisfaction to the people who are fond of flower decoration pieces to beautify their homes and offices. Nowadays, the price of real potted plants and flowers are costly and moreover, not many people have the time to spare on gardening so I started taking up dry flower making,” said Pravin, who now has his own shop `Lily Dry Flower` at Chingmeirong.
He further said, he has participated in many fairs conducted in various parts of the state in India and also participated in the 2012 Sangai Festival.
“I am quite satisfied the way they have organized everything, specially the space allotted for the stalla, but the venue is not really attractive to the public,” Pravin said
A stall owner selling traditional handloom products also expressed his disappointment over the lack of visitors at the Craft Bazar. He said, “We are displaying traditional dress for Tangkhul and Meitei dresses made of silk which have all been specially ordered from the best traditional handloom weavers but it is very discouraging to see such less numbers of people coming here.”
Phaomei, a participant at a health based stall displaying alternative health therapies like acupuncture, detoxification, and a treatment incorporating both acupuncture and food supplements said that his firm had earlier organized many camps and home visits in various districts. “There is a market for our products as people are looking at alternative health therapies.
We do get a lot of orders but the poor transport system in the state is a major challenge,”he said adding that bandhs and blockades make things more difficult for them.
During a brief visit at the mela ground today, this IFP reporter came across only a few visitors despite the Craft Bazar having numerous products on display. However, stall owners and organizers were optimistic that the numbers of visitors would increase in the remaining days.