Pingalwara to hold fair for traditional craftsmen

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 19

With a view to revive the dying traditional craftsmen, the All India Pingalwara Society has come up with an initiative to provide them a platform. In its endeavour, the Pingalwara Society has announced to organise a fair to mark the death anniversary of society founder Bhagat Puran Singh between July 30 and August 1. The occasion will also be dedicated to the upcoming 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

With the passage of time and technology, there have been lesser takers for handmade products, putting the artisans in a penury state.

Dr Inderjeet Kaur, chairperson of the Pingalwara Society, said craftsmen, including members of the Thatheras community of Jandiala Guru who constitute the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab, cane craftsmen, carpenters, shoe makers and stone craft makers will have the opportunity to showcase their products in the exhibition.

"The original transcripts written by Bhagat Puran Singh about the properties of traditional items and their scientific reasoning for their beneficial to health will also be displayed during the exhibition," she said.

“I have observed that with the advent of technology and the modern lifestyle, these artistes are heading towards extinction. Neither the society nor the successive government ever cared to help them out. We thought of giving them an opportunity to showcase their talent and also encourage the residents to go for handmade products. I appeal to the NGOs, social welfare organisations and others to come forward to promote them,” she said.

Meanwhile, several artistes, who attended the session, narrated about the hardships they had to face in this machine age.

Others present on the occasion included society vice president Dr Jagdeepak Singh, secretary Mukhtiar Singh, administrator Col. Darshan Singh Bawa (retd) and general manager Tilak Raj.