By Dominick Rodrigues
Panjim,: The 28th edition of “HUnar Haat” — displaying products by indigenous artisans and craftsmen – was inaugurated by the Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant at the Kala Academy in Panjim on March 27.
Former Goa Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP Shri Francisco Sardinha; Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister of State (I/C) Shripad Nayak; Rajya Sabha MP Shri Vinay Dinu Tendulkar; Goa Dy Chief Minister Shri Chandrakant Kavlekar were also present on the occasion.
Noting that “Hunar Haat” strengthened “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” with the message “Jaan Bhi, Jahaan Bhi”, Sawant said Hunar Haat” has been providing financial benefits to needy artisans and craftsmen by not only promoting artisans and craftsmen, but also promoting the tourism sector of Goa.
Describing “Hunar Haat” as a platform strengthening India’s cultural unity and diversity¸he appealed to people of Goa and tourists visiting the state to visit “Hunar Haat” to encourage the artisans and craftsmen.
Former Goa Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP Francisco Sardinha said that “Hunar Haat” highlighted India’s “Unity in Diversity” through the country’s art and culture showcased under one roof.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said that “Hunar Haat”, which is held at different venues in India, has witnessed participation and employment for over 5.5 lakh artisans, craftsmen and others, besides on virtual and online platforms http://hunarhaat.org and on GeM Portal for buyers.
Union Minister of State (I/C) Shripad Naik said “Hunar Haat” emphasized “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local” while being an an effective platform for providing large-scale employment opportunities to artisans and craftsmen of the country.
Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Dinu Tendulkar lauded Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for organising “Hunar Haat” and encouraging artisans and craftsmen. Goa Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said “Hunar Haat” displayed art and craft of different states of the country and would provide benefits to artisans and craftsmen of Goa.
The 28th “Hunar Haat” has been organized under the theme “Vocal for Local” from March 26 to April 4 with over 500 artisans and craftsmen from around 30 states/UTs participating.
These artisans are showcasing products like Kalamkari, Bidriware, Udaigiri Wooden Cutlery, products made from cane-bamboo-jute, Madhubani painting, Moonga Silk, Tussar Silk, Leather products, marble products, sandalwood products, embroidery, Chanderi saree, Black Pottery, Kundan jewellery, glass products, wooden-clay toys, brass products, Handloom etc.
Besides various musical cultural programmes, traditional foods from various states such as Mughlai, South Indian, Goa, Malayali, Punjabi, Bengali food etc are being displayed at “Bawarchikhana” in the “Hunar Haat”.
“Hunar Haat” will also be held later this year at Dehradun, Surat, Kota, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Jaipur, Patna, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Gauhati, Bhubaneshwar and Jammu-Kashmir.
