The Uttar Pradesh Mati Kala Board has decided to set up a 3-day clayware and pottery exhibition in the state on the occasion of Diwali this year. Reportedly, preparations are underway to stage a platform for about 150 artisans across UP. The display will range from idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi, decorative earthen lamps and other clay and handmade products, running along the theme of ‘Vocal for Local’.
Shaping up the clayware industry in Uttar Pradesh
Artisans across all districts of Uttar Pradesh will get a chance to showcase their skills and products in a 3-day elaborate Matikala Exhibition this Diwali Season. The product line will encapsulate several earthen and clay products which are popularly sought by all during the festive days.
As per reports, the decision of floating the exhibition has been buoyed by a similar festival organised in Lucknow last year. Products worth ₹50 lakh were sold during this first-time venture in the state capital, boosting the spirit of the Mati Kala Board organisers to scale its operations this time.
The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Khadi, Navneet Sehgal, elaborated that besides the display and sales of handicrafts, a 3-day-long seminar and workshop on terracotta pottery will also be here. This special provision will be flagged off under the Mati Kala/Pottery Development Scheme, he added. Experts from top institutions will detail the technical aspects of their discipline for the benefit of novice attending artisans.
“The efforts of the board are directed towards making the market competitive for artisans which will not only improve quality of products but also fetch better prices”, the ACS added.
Mati Kala Provisional Sale Centre to be set up
Meanwhile, the state also has plans to set up a 3-day Mati Kala temporary sale centre here, in line with the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ – a self-reliant India. The provisional outlet will be backed by the local administration of every district in UP, providing a wide market base to the artisans displaying their handicrafts here.
