Dastkar is an NGO which works towards promoting handicrafts, organic food and upliftment and betterment of the economic condition of the artisans who produce those wonderful products.
Every year, Dastkar organises Nature Bazaar(s) at various cities in India, thereby enabling and providing a platform for the artisans to showcase and sell their products.It was amazing to see that there are artisans from almost every state of India. And each state had a different type of art /handicraft.
At last year's Nature Bazaar, I discovered this organization called Timbaktu promoted by Dastkar, Andhra Pradesh. Timbaktu works with small farmers of Anantapur dist , the most drought region of Andhra Pradesh and produces various organic food grains. I discovered a food grain called "Fox millet rice". It was a very tiny looking grain, creamish in colour. I loved the grain from the first look of it and bought a 250gms packet. I showed it to my mother when she was in Bangalore, to know if she knew that grain. And voila, she knew about it and she told me its a nice grain and all the dishes made out of it are quite tasty. So, this year again I purchased it for my mom.
This year I discovered the Assam's handloom products. I never knew Assam had handlooms representing its state. What a discovery I made, I instantly fell in love with the fabric. They mainly work with soft cotton. I bought a kurta for myself. And I googled about it and later realized that Bangalore has an exclusive store called "Ants" which sells handlooms and handicrafts from Assam. This store is in Indiranagar(very close to New horizon school).
Apart from showcasing and exhibiting the products, there were sessions on pottery , block printing etc... All through the day, they were playing some folk music. There were mandaps for people to sit. It was a setting like a North Indian wedding.
Here are some snapshots of the Bazaar.
Kiddie bank made of leather from Shantineketan, West Bengal
Chanapatna toys from Karnataka
Puppets from Rajasthan
Potter's wheel for the demo
