AI-powered ‘Tau’ major crowd-puller at India International Trade Fair

Blending technology with tradition, the Haryana Pavilion has emerged as a major crowd-puller at the 44th India International Trade Fair (IITF), with its interactive holographic installation ‘AI Tau te Bhujo’ offering visitors an engaging way to learn about state welfare schemes.

Pavilion Director Anil Kumar Choudhary said the AI-powered hologram has become the biggest attraction this year. “We have given a holographic presentation of Tau. If you press the touch button, Tau speaks and explains various schemes. This is our main highlight,” he said.

The pavilion mirrors this year’s IITF theme, ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’, bringing together glimpses of Haryana’s rural life, craftsmanship, industrial growth and sustainability initiatives. At the entrance, a life-size replica of Hemu Fort sets the tone, followed by scenes depicting village squares, children playing and mannequins dressed in traditional attire sitting under a tree, an immersive walk-through of rural Haryana.

“We wanted visitors to understand that Haryana is largely an agrarian economy with a strong rural character,” Choudhary said. “The pavilion shows how people live in villages, what their surroundings look like and what defines their daily life.”

The Haryana Pavilion features 33 stalls displaying products by MSMEs, self-help groups and artisans. Terracotta pottery, traditional garments, paintings, ready-to-eat food items, green gram, pickles and a wide range of handcrafted items line the aisles. A dedicated section showcases the state’s industrial and technology landscape, including Gurugram’s position as a modern global investment hub.

Among the artisans drawing attention is Faridabad-based wire artist Udit Narayan, who turns discarded charging cables into striking artworks. “In 2014, I saw burning wires polluting the environment. That’s when I realised I could repurpose them into art,” Narayan told ‘The Tribune’. His work has been acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Narayan’s wire portraits, including one of CM Saini and one of Deli CM Rekha Gupta, have impressed visitors, many of whom he encourages to donate old cables instead of discarding them. “Art should not only inspire but also empower,” he said, adding that he teaches wire art to underprivileged children at a gurukul.

Another artisan, Rajender Singh, has brought delicate glass figurines and decorative pieces crafted entirely by hand. Demonstrating his technique, Singh said he has been practising the craft since 1994, having learned it from relatives. “I mould the glass by hand,” he explained, adding that each piece can take anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours. His products are priced between Rs 50 and Rs 150.

With its mix of innovation, sustainability, craftsmanship and cultural aesthetics, the Haryana Pavilion continues to stand out as one of the fair’s most interactive and engaging spaces, offering visitors a compelling look at both the traditional and modern faces of the state.