Visakhapatnam: IFR Village boosts Indian culture

Visakhapatnam: The IFR Village has united all the States bringing their tradition and culture together on the Andhra University North Campus ground.

The Village, with about 100 stalls, is showcasing the crafts with varieties of art works of wood, pottery, handloom and handicraft, including live stalls of saree weaving and bamboo work by talented youth of India.

People from across India, besides the delegates, are making a beeline soon after it was thrown open to public.  

On entering the Village, one can see a woman from Rajasthan making potteries, like toys and dishes of different shapes and design, surrounded with people curiously looking at her.

There are also some other women drawing folk art - Sanjhi-using cow dung, clay and white chalk. 

Another stall depicting Madhubani painting works from Bihar is also drawing huge crowd. The painting on paper and canvas has been done using colours prepared from leaf, flower and other natural substances.   

The sola-pith craft from West Bengal has brought in variety of Durga idols including the small ones that are used to decorate homes with the belief that they augur well for the household. Besides, there are wood carvings of various goddesses from Tirupati.

The traditional jewellery stalls are a major attraction for girls and women, that of Rajashtan, selling jewels made of gemstones is a big hit.

"People are liking the Mina, Thewa and Kundan jewellery. I am happy that people are valuing our art and craft. The jewellery pieces also carry the designs carved on different palaces and Sheesh Mahal. One person bought jewellery worth Rs 12,000 today," said Abdul Rehman, the jewellery stall owner.

Among others, leather puppets (Andhra Pradesh), Banarasi sarees, embroidery works (Gujarat), puja utensils have been depicted at various stalls.

The navy also opened a stall to sell IFR curios on mugs, sippers, memorabilia.
Soumya, from Bengal-uru, said  the IFR Village had given a chance to all States to showcase their art and culture.

Proposals invited to record cultural resources

Visakhapatnam: With a view to build up cultural cohesion in the country,  promote and preserve the culture, the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) has invited proposals for the documentation of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Resources of six States-- AP, Karnataka, MP, Chhatisgarh, Maha-rashtra and Telangana.

The SCZCC is also coordinating the cultural programmes of the IFR.
SCZCC director Dr. Piush Kumar said, “Many of the traditional ways of life are being lost or diluted with increased modernisation.”

“The applicant is required to submit a bio-data highlighting experience, samples of their writings, photographs, films or audio work along with minimum expected lump sum honorarium on or before March 7. The project proposal should not be more than 300 words,” the director said.

The expert committee comprising Shayam Benegal, Amol Palekar and Sudhir Kakar would look into the proposals and would award the deserving person and also decide the honorarium.