Women from Himachal with skills at ‘Him Mahotsav’ hope Delhi’s cold picks up their clientele

Colourful fabrics laced with intricate designs, bright stone-studded jewellery, handmade paintings that sooth a person, fragrance of organic jams and jellies and mouth-watering cuisine of hills. For a moment, a person gets a feel of Himalayas in Delhi.

It’s all at Delhi Haat where Himachal Pradesh government has organised an exhibition ‘Him Mahotsav’—a platform for region’s entrepreneurs to showcase their crafts and products.

Above all at most of the stalls at Him Mahotsav are being run by women from hills, whose resilience and composure reflects in their products they sell at the exhibition. Their brightly lit faces tell the story to how they are keeping alive the traditional crafts and products from hills.

26-year-old Ranjana Sandhu, an entrepreneur is selling paintings which are no ordinary, but Mandala art. She claims these paintings rcane be a great stress buster for a person. There is also Kirandeep Kaur, 33, who sells wooden artifacts made from reclaimed wood. “We don’t cut trees to make this. We don’t harm environment,” she said.

For Anshul Malhotra, 40, who is also a Nari Shakti Awardee, the platform provides an opportunity for the region’s women to showcase their mettle. Malhotra from Mandi sells fabrics made from sheep wool and leads a group with which 200 women are associated.

MD HP State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation Gandhara Rathore told Tribune that out of the 60 stalls at the exhibition, over 31 shops are with women.

49-year-old Sunita Devi from Kangra is exhibiting her products for the first time at the exhibition. Her balm, candles and honey, she said is organic and buyers are showing interest in her products.

Pinku Devi from Kullu district is showcasing her handmade shawls, stalls and other handicrafts to foreign visitors. “In hope Delhi’s cold picks up our clientele,” she said.

There is also a food court at the exhibition, where Himachal’s special ‘dhaam’ is a major attraction. The officials present at the food court said they have got ‘siddu’ which is “nutritious” and can be a alternative to “unhealthy” readymade foods in the market. “We include walnuts in it. It keeps you warm,” said a Himachal Pradesh’s tourism official.