CM Pinarayi Vijayan to inaugurate international crafts expo on December 18

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the sixth edition of the International Arts and Crafts fair organized by Sargaalaya Craft Village, Irigal on December 18. The fest is being hosted in association with the Tourism Department, NABARD and south zone culture center, Thanjavoor. Taking to mediapersons about the fair, Excise Minister TP Ramakrishnan said, “The major highlight of the fair will be the presence of international artisans who will exhibit their crafts and some of them will also hold demonstrations for the visitors.”

Artisans from Thailand will have five stalls in the fair and artisans from Uganda and Afghanistan will have two and one stalls respectively displaying their traditional crafts, he added. The festival comprises the expo of crafts by 400 artisans, craft making demonstration by 100 artisans as well as traditional art forms of India performed by artists from various parts of the State. “The union department has honoured Sargaalaya as the nation’s best rural tourism project”, said P.P. Baskharan, Executive officer of Sargaalaya carft village.

In view of the demonetisation, swiping machines will be installed in Sargaalaya. Parking facilities have been arranged in nearby spaces. Since Sargaalaya is near the National Highway, a decision has been taken, with the help of the Traffic Department, to divert long route buses and other heavy vehicles. Buses and vehicles coming from Kozhikode side would be diverted from Pavangad and those coming from Thalassery, Kannur and far off places, from Thalassery to Perungathur via Kuttiyadi and then to Pavangad, he added.