Poompuhar / Cauvery / Lepakshi / Kairali / Surabhi / Mrignayani / Kashmir Government Arts Emporium / Phulkari / Rajasthali / Garvi Gurjari / Manjusha / Gangotri / Trimurthi / Purbasha / Uthkalika / Central Cottage Industries Emporium / State Emporia Complex Baba Kharak Singh Marg New Delhi / Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan New Delhi
Introduction:
India’s state-run handicrafts and handloom emporiums, including the iconic Central Cottage Industries Emporium, are a treasure trove of the country’s rich artistic heritage. These emporiums, spread across the nation, showcase the diverse and intricate craftsmanship from various regions, preserving centuries-old traditions. Offering everything from handwoven textiles to exquisite pottery and intricate jewelry, these emporiums serve as vital platforms for artisans and weavers to sustain their livelihoods. They are not only a celebration of India’s artistic legacy but also a window for the world to appreciate its unmatched cultural diversity.
India’s state-run handicrafts emporiums serve as vital platforms for preserving and promoting the country’s diverse artisanal traditions, offering a wide range of authentic handicrafts, handlooms, and artifacts directly sourced from skilled artisans.
Spread across various states, these emporiums include Poompuhar (Tamil Nadu), Cauvery (Karnataka), Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh), Kairali (Kerala), Surabhi (Telangana), Mrignayani (Madhya Pradesh), Kashmir Government Arts Emporium (Jammu & Kashmir), Phulkari (Punjab), Rajasthali (Rajasthan), Garvi Gurjari (Gujarat), Manjusha (Bihar), Gangotri (Uttarakhand), Trimurthi (Maharashtra), Purbasha (Tripura), and Utkalika (Odisha).
These government-backed stores ensure fair trade, supporting local artisans while providing consumers with high-quality, region-specific handicrafts such as Pashmina shawls, Madhubani paintings, Bidriware, Kanjeevaram silks, Channapatna toys, and intricate wood carvings.
The Central Cottage Industries Emporium and the State Emporia Complex on Baba Kharak Singh Marg in New Delhi, along with the Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, serve as major hubs where India’s rich craftsmanship is showcased under one roof, making them must-visit destinations for heritage enthusiasts and connoisseurs of traditional art forms.
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“A country remains poor in wealth both materially and intellectually if it does not develop its handicrafts, and its handicrafts & handloom industries. It lives a lazy parasitic life by importing all the manufactured articles from outside”.
~ Mahatma Gandhi