UP Mati Kala Board to host 10-day event from Oct 14 to showcase dols of Lord Ganesh, Goddess Lakshmi, decorative lamps etc.,

LUCKNOW, July 28 (The CONNECT) - In a bid to promote the art of pottery and clay ware and improve the artisans’ economic conditions, the Uttar Pradesh Government will organise Mati Kala Mela from October 14 to October 23 in Lucknow on the occasion of Diwali.

The 10-day long exhibition organised by the UP Mati Kala Board of the Government, will be held at the Sangeet Natak Academy, Gomtinagar.

The Mela will showcase handcrafted products made of clay by artisans from across Uttar Pradesh. Craftsmen from all districts of the state will be exhibiting their skills and talents via their products at the fair.

On Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s instructions, the initiative is designed to curb the sale of Chinese idols and products during festive season and to reclaim local artisans’ glory and honour.

The Mati Kala Board will bear the cost of lodging of the participating artisans for 10 days. The artisans will also be exempted from paying stall charges.

A wide range of products will be exhibited at the fair, including terracotta of Gorakhpur; black pottery (Azamgarh), earthen cooker (Khurja), in addition to clay products from Agra, Lucknow, Mirzapur, Azamgarh, Chandauli, Unnao, Ballia, Kanpur, Pilibhit, Allahabad, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Banda.

Promoting ‘Vocal for Local’ this Diwali, products such as idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi, decorative lamps and diyas, earthen lamps, and other clay and handmade products will be available at the exhibition.

This year, the idols of Ganesh-Lakshmi will be made through standardised moulds of 8 inches, which will ensure uniform size and shape. The moulds have been made available in every district. According to the need, the production can be increased by making duplicate moulds from them.

Only 37 districts were provided with these moulds last year. These standard sized moulds have been made available to Khadi Board's training centres located in Lucknow, Mau, Allahabad, Azamgarh, Basti, Jalaun, Nazimabad, Mathura, Shahjahanpur and Gorakhpur.

Besides displaying a wide variety of clay products from different districts, the Mati Kala Mela will feature live demonstrations of how they are made to encourage aspiring artisans as well as to raise awareness about Uttar Pradesh’s rich heritage of craftsmanship among people.

The Mela will also feature three-day training for aspiring artisans. The three-day seminar on technical knowhow will help the artisans learn about the use of tools and machinery in the making of clay products. Information regarding packaging, marketing, especially e-marketing will be also provided.