Young Artisans Revive India's Fading Crafts

At Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Karigar Bazaar is currently hosting over 200 artisans from across India, presenting a vibrant display of traditional crafts. This event is particularly notable for the significant participation of teenagers and young adults who are actively choosing to continue and promote their inherited artistic legacies, challenging the notion that these skills are fading.

Among the participants is Sumnath, a 26-year-old fourth-generation wood engraver who left his BTech studies to uphold his family's tradition. He shared that while passion drives him, finding a sustainable market and fair compensation for skill, not just material and labor, remains a significant challenge. Events like Karigar Bazaar are vital as they enable artisans to sell directly to consumers, bypassing middlemen and gaining recognition.

The bazaar features a wide spectrum of arts, including handlooms, tribal art, jewelry, and sustainable crafts, with live demonstrations and cultural performances adding to the experience. Visitors can explore diverse works from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, seeing young graduates and students showcasing weaving, metalwork, and embroidery, thereby revitalizing India's rich craft diversity.

Also present are young entrepreneurs like a group of Afghan teenagers selling dehydrated fruits and nuts, and brothers from Kerala modernizing woodcraft designs. The event, which requires a Rs 50 ticket for entry through gate no. 13, underscores a dynamic fusion of tradition and contemporary entrepreneurship among the youth.