The four-day festival, being held at Alliance Française, Lodhi Estate, brings together artisans from border areas of Barmer in western Rajasthan and villages of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, enabling them to sell directly to buyers without intermediaries.
The exhibition is open to the public until January 10, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free entry.
The festival was inaugurated by renowned Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan, who underscored the cultural responsibility of safeguarding traditional crafts. ITRHD Chairman Shri S.K. Mishra said the initiative focuses not only on showcasing crafts but also on expanding market access while protecting traditional knowledge systems.
This year’s edition highlights six artisans from Barmer, near the India–Pakistan border, presenting embroidery, appliqué, leather craft, dhurrie weaving, and Ajrak printing through live demonstrations. ITRHD said it has worked with Barmer artisans for over six years, supporting them through design intervention, product diversification, and by covering participation costs so artisans retain full sales proceeds.
From Azamgarh, the festival features Mubarakpur handloom weaving, Nizamabad black pottery, and Hariharpur’s classical music tradition. Nizamabad black pottery gained global recognition after being gifted.
