New Delhi (NVI): After a gap of five months due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, Hunar Haat – a platform for artisans and craftsmen from across the country to showcase their art and craft – will restart from September with the theme of “Local to Global”, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs today said.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said, “Hunar Haat has provided employment opportunities to more than five lakh Indian artisans, craftsmen, culinary experts and other people associated with them in the last five years and has become popular among the masses.”
Hunar Haat provides a market and several opportunities to master artisans and craftsmen from remote areas of the country and has become a credible brand of rare exquisite indigenous handmade products, the minister added.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his instantaneous visit to “Hunar Haat” in February, 2020, organised at India Gate, had encouraged and lauded indigenous handmade products of artisans and craftsmen.
Appreciating the products in a “Mann Ki Baat” programme, PM Modi said, “A few days ago, at a small place in the Hunar Haat, I witnessed hues of our country’s diverse expanse, cultures, traditions, cuisines and warmth of emotions.”
PM Modi had said, “Hunar Haat, of course, is a platform showcasing art & craft; it is also lending wings to people’s dreams. It is a venue where it is impossible to overlook the country’s diversity.
“Besides handicrafts, it displays the diversity of India’s varied cuisine too. Whenever the opportunity arises, one should attend such events to know India, to experience India,” he added.
In the coming days, Hunar Haat will be organised in Chandigarh, Delhi, Prayagraj, Bhopal, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Goa, Dehradun, Pune, Shimla and other places.
There will be a special “Jaan Bhi, Jahaan Bhi” pavilion to create health awareness among the people with the theme of “Say no to panic, yes to precautions”.
The Minister said that, “Social distancing, hygiene, sanitisation and use of masks will be ensured at the Hunar Haat.”
By utilising the time during the nationwide lockdown; artisans and craftsmen have prepared their rare indigenous exquisite products at a large scale and will bring them for display and sale in the next Hunar Haat, Naqvi added.
“This time, people will also be able to buy Hunar Haat products through digital platforms as well. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has started the process to register these artisans and their indigenous products on Government e-Marketplace (GeM),” Naqvi said.
However, lakhs of master artisans and craftsmen from across the country are happy and excited that “Hunar Haat” is going to be organised again.
