Date:29/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/29/stories/2006122917750500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rajasthan in miniature at Poompuhar showroom

Staff Reporter

Eye-catching variety at the exhibition-cum-sale

HEADY ART: Rajasthani skills are showcased at an exhibition at the Poompuhar showroom in Chennai. — PHOTO: R. Ragu

CHENNAI : Bits and pieces of Rajasthan jump at you from almost all items lined up at the Poompuhar showroom on Anna Salai.

There are Bikaneri meena work, intricate woodcarving, glittering glasswork and bright shades of blue, green and red on a variety of goods ranging from Jaipuri quilts to funky key chains and jhoothis.

Rajasthali, a Rajasthan government undertaking for promotion of handicrafts, has brought 25 artisans from all over that State to Tamil Nadu for an exhibition-cum-sale till January 11. The variety is eye-catching, as usual.

You can take your pick from hand block-printed bed linen, colourful saris embellished with glasswork, shekhawati wooden chairs, two-seaters and painted `patra' low stools and corner tables.

More is there for decking up the house: traditional `katputlis' (puppets) for the walls, gemstone paintings, papier-mâché masks and framed stamp papers with resembling age-old documents.

There are bright penholders, again in papier-mache. Then there is the dull sheen of 22-carat gold on delicate elephants chiselled out of marble. Quilts in vivid cottons and shiny velvets are there to keep the chill out.

Precious stones

And then there are chunky yet malleable neckpieces made with use of plastic and colourful threads. For good luck, try the precious and semi-precious stone collection.

But the real charming pieces are dolls in bright `ghaghras' and headgears.

They come in all sizes — big enough for brightening up that dull wall and petite to be carried around in your bag.