A FAIR OF MASTER CREATIONS

Padma Shri, Shilp Guru, National Awardees and their families, showcase their rich arts and crafts skills and share the highs and lows of keeping family traditions alive. TMS brings you key highlights of the ongoing Master Creation Ki Biradari at Dilli Haat

- PRIVAMVADA RANA.

AS winter is here, it's the right time to soak in the sun over festivals and carnivals.

We step inside Dilli Haat to explore handcrafted treasures at the ongoing fair, Master Creation Ki Biradari, organised by The Ministry of Textiles. It shines a well-deserved spotlight on the master craftsmen who preserve age-old crafts but usually drop off from collective memory.

On display are the works of 11 Padma Shris, 18 Shilp Gurus, 22 Sant Kabir awardees, and 113 National awardees. They offer a glimpse into India's rich artistry in textiles, handicrafts, woodwork, furnishings, metal crafts, miniature painting, cane work, stone pottery, leather art, and more.

Next generation leads

Our first stop is at Padma Shri Subhadra Devi's pavilion. Celebrated as the 'Mother of Madhubani papier mâché art' in Bihar, the 85-year-old has taught this skill to more than 500 people across India. Her daughter Rani Devi, 35, carries forward the art with pride and talks about the eco-friendly process: "We mash water-soaked paper with methi powder (fenugreek), Fuller's Earth and an adhesive made of wheat flour and water to make a paste.