Today marks the beginning of Virasat Karigar Haat, a one-of-a-kind traditional art haat that is now open to public at Monalisa Kalagram in Koregaon Park. From 30th January to 3rd February, 2025, visitors would be able to purchase and experience the finest hand crafted masterpieces from the 30 exceptional artists. These artists are all National award winners, including Padma awardees and even a UNESCO recognized awardee. You’ll be able to shop from a variety of options including textiles, paintings, jewellery, and home décor. The first day of the haat was beyond exceptional.
From the moment you enter, you would be spell bounded by the sheer vibrancy and variety of crafts on display. It would feel like walking through a living museum, where every craft, every corner tells you a story, and every artist had a unique narrative to share. As you would move through the haat, you’d be able to smell the fresh paint used for the kalamkari paintings by Jonnalagadda Niranjan, and the earthy fragrance of clay on the terracotta craft stall by Rajendra Kumhar. Your senses would be fully engaged from the silky texture of Silk Patola sarees and the sound of Mooralal Marwada’s soulful folk music.
The event kicked off today with a heartwarming inauguration ceremony. Filmmakers Gauri Shinde and R. Balki offered their support to these extraordinary artisans.
At the first stop, we found ourselves in awe of the Bandhani craft by Ababil Suleman Khatri. We were amazed by the colour precision and intricacy of each design. We were able to feel the softness of the fabric and the fact that it is hand crafted made it more mesmerising. The varieties of apparel included stalls, cloth materials, dupattas and even sarees.
In another stall, Raghav Rajsoni introduced the visitors to Thewa jewellery. The intricate designs of the jewellery blended gold with colored glass, creating pieces that seemed regal. It was fascinating to hear Rajsoni describe how each piece of jewellery is carefully crafted, depicting years of tradition and skills. One of the stops was with Prakash Joshi, a master of Phad paintings. As he explained the meticulous process of painting on a cotton cloth, we couldn’t help but get mesmerized by minute and intricate details depicting epic stories of mythology and folklores.
The Kutchi artwork accessories and garments on the display also caught our attention. The vibrancy of mirror embroidery, thread work and colours on accessories such as potlis and stoles stood out for their incredible craftsmanship. Of course, our visit would have been incomplete without cherishing Ashraf Hassan’s handcrafted Jutis. We could feel the smooth leather and beautiful stitching from the moment we picked them up. Each pair of male and female jutis felt like a labour of love that we’d want to buy.
In a city that values diversity, this Haat promises to be an unforgettable experience for those passionate about traditional Indian crafts and the ones who want to explore it. Mark your calendars now and add Virasat Karigar Haat to your to-do list! We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it, we’re sure you would too! Trust us, you’d be spell bounded!
Here are the details for you:
Date: January 30- February 3, 2025
Timings: 10:30 am to 7:30 pm
Venue: The Monalisa Kalagram, Pingale Farms, End of, S Main Rd, Iricen Railway Colony, Koregaon Park, Pune
Entry Free
