Handloom, handicraft galleries at INA Metro station in Delhi

Display galleries showcasing the rich handicrafts and handloom traditions and products of different parts of India have been set up at the INA station of the Delhi Metro's Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar corridor.

The galleries, named "Crafts of India", have been installed by the Union Ministry of Textiles in coordination with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to highlight the centuries-old folk art of the country.

Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy inaugurated the galleries today in the presence of Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan.

As many as 58 paintings from various schools of art, handloom artifacts and murals have been displayed on cloth, paper and nuwood panels at these galleries. All the murals and paintings have been shortlisted by the Ministry of Textiles and created by national award winning craftsmen and painters.

These galleries have been strategically installed at the INA Metro station as a lot of tourists especially foreigners are expected to use the Metro to visit the nearby Dilli Haat, which is a handlooms and handicrafts bazaar, designed with the ambience of traditional Indian village markets.

The exhibits are an effort to document, among other things, the traditional paintings from Warli, Santhal, Patna, Cherial Scroll, Mithila, Kali Ghat, Pat Chitra, Chamba, Thangka style, Mewar, Tanjore and so on. Handcrafted mural ceramic tiles, Kalamkari, Straw work, Camel Bone murals and brass embossed items are also on display.

The exhibition highlights handloom fabrics woven with intricate weaving techniques such as Kani Weaves, Paithani, Banares Brocade, Jamdani, Baluchari, Patola, Vichitrapuri, Biman Saree; embroideries of Phulkari, Chikan, Chamba, Kutch along with Barmer, Ajarakhand Bagh printed tie and dye vividly display these traditional skills from all over India.

"The galleries will help these traditional products to find new markets; to attract potential buyers and to keep alive the vibrant and intricate designs and techniques which reflect the artisans’ and weavers’ skills and artistry," a spokesman for DMRC said.

The displays have been mounted on copper sheet frame with SS steel framework at the back. To ensure the safety and longevity of the galleries, they have been put up on waterproof walls and tough non reflective glass sheets have been used to cover them. LED light strips have been placed at the bottom to illuminate the galleries.

Separate information panels with details about these galleries have been put up at all the three entrances to the station. It is expected that these galleries will help a lot in promoting and popularizing Indian traditional folk arts, the spokesman said.

The DMRC, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), is also installing panels and artworks about the historical monuments of the city at all the Metro stations on the underground Central Secretariat – Qutub Minar corridor, he added.

NNN