https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Mela in Udaipur Brings Hope For Artisans

After a break of two years the annual Shilpgram Mela is being held in Udaipur again. It started on 26 December and will end today. The melas gave a platform to artists and craftsmen to showcase their art after a long gap. Director of Western Zone Cultural, Udaipur, Kiran Soni Gupta said that she is happy the mela is helping the artists to sell their art and earn some money as they went through a difficult time in the last two years because of Covid.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Artists and craftsmen went through a rough phase in the last two years. The pandemic and the two lockdowns reduced their earnings to almost zero and some of them were on the verge of starving. A retired IAS officer felt deeply about their plight and wanted to help them in some way. She is Ms. Kiran Soni Gupta and she is currently the Director of Western Zone Cultural, Udaipur. 

Ms. Kiran Soni Gupta inaugurating an event

Ms. Gupta wanted to bring back normalcy to the lives of artisans so that they can resume creating beautiful art pieces and earn some money by their sale. So, she decided to organise the Shipgram Mela, an annual event in Udaipur that could not take place in the last two years, with double enthusiasm this year. She and her team went out of their way to make sure the event is a huge success. During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Gupta talked about some interesting aspects of the mela and, also, the challenges she faced in organising it during pandemic time.

SHILPGRAM MELA 

This year around 11,000 artisans and craftsmen from 25 states participated in the Mela and around 100 shops displayed different variety of products. People came in large numbers to the Mela to enjoy an event after a long gap. 

The Mela started on 21st December and today is the last day. It was inaugurated by the Governor of Rajasthan, Mr. Kalraj Mishra. This year the theme is traditional art and culture of our country. Every day is dedicated to folk and arts of one state which falls under the western zone cultural centre. Every state gets two days to showcase their art and craft. States like Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra are actively participating along with home state Rajasthan. 

HELPING ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN

Ms. Gupta said, “This has been an annual affair but due to Covid, we couldn’t organise it last year. In the last few years, it had been a major attraction for tourists but Covid changed everything. We just wanted to resume this activity so that the artists can be helped. Shipgram provides lots of livelihood opportunities for them. I can proudly say this year has been a big success. A participant in the mela told me that all her products got sold. She makes idols with paper. What else do we want?”

Around 100 shops presenting different hand made items are their in the mela

ALL INCLUSIVE MELA

The cultural program organised in the mela has always been one of the major attractions. This year is special too, as different folk dances from states like Manipur, Assam, Jammu and Gujarat are on show. 

Along with enjoying the cultural programs, people can go around the stalls and buy handicraft items made of cloth, metal, wood, blue pottery etc. 15 artists and craftsmen are also giving live performances of their work, which is an added attraction. 

“We have called famous artists from different places to showcase their work. Ajit from Jaipur who is famous for his fire art has been getting huge applauds for his paintings drawn with fire,” Ms. Gupta informed.

Specially-abled and transgender artists are also taking part in the mela, showcasing their work and also taking part in various competitions. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT