Kurukshetra: Sri Krishna Museum to start selling replicas, artefacts
Nitish Sharma
Kurukshetra, February 18
Visitors who reach Sri Krishna Museum in Kurukshetra will soon be able to buy the memorabilia and replicas of artefacts and sculptures displayed in the galleries of the museum from the sales counter.
To attract more visitors
Upender Singhal, honorary secretary of the KDB, said: “Sincere efforts are being made to attract more visitors to the museum, so a sales counter will be opened very soon where the visitors will be able to buy replicas.”
Besides opening a sales counter to sell the replicas, the authorities have also come out with a plan to provide a platform to local craftsmen so that they can sell their products through the sales counter.
The museum is dedicated to Lord Krishna and the daily average footfall at the museum is just over 1,100. The Kurukshetra Development Board and the museum authorities had been trying to increase the footfall by introducing new attractions.
The authorities believe that a sales counter will not only attract more visitors to the museum but also help in increasing the revenue and promoting local art and crafts. As per information, the museum will offer replicas of the sculptures and other artefacts recovered during the excavation under the 48-kos land of Kurukshetra.
An official at Sri Krishna Museum said, “We have some rare archeological artefacts, especially some sculptures, recovered during the excavation under the 48-kos land of Kurukshetra. It has been decided that a sales counter will be started in the museum where the visitors can buy replicas of some of the masterpieces displayed in the museum. The replicas will be sold at reasonable prices as the prime objective of starting the counter is to attract the tourists.”
“Besides, we are trying to create business opportunities for craftsmen. We have seen craftsmen getting a good response during the International Gita Mahotsav. To provide a platform to the local craftsperson, it has been decided to sell their products too from the counter. A committee has been formed to procure the products. The theme of the products to be sold will remain Krishna and Kurukshetra,” he added.
At present, crafts and Saras fairs are organised at the Brahma Sarovar during the International Gita Mahotsav. A large number of people reach Kurukshetra to visit the fairs while craftsmen and traders do a brisk business. But there is no other such fair to attract tourists after the mahotsav.
Sources said there was a proposal to set up a permanent crafts bazar at the museum by opening some stalls and giving it to craftsmen on a rotation basis, but the plan didn’t materialise, so it was decided that the products be sold through the counter.
Meanwhile, Upender Singhal, honorary secretary of the KDB, said, “Sincere efforts are being made to attract more visitors to the museum, so a sales counter will be opened very soon where the visitors will be able to buy the replicas.”
