With the last month of the summer season under way, festival fairs have lit up several parts of Jaipur, drawing big crowds of eager shoppers. One of the busiest spots right now is the Jawahar Kala Kendra, where the Swadeshi Shilp Utsav has brought weavers, craftspeople and artisans from nearly every Indian state under one roof, each showcasing their finest products.
Held as the season's last big shopping draw, the fair has set up more than 100 handmade product stalls for visitors. Shoppers can pick up the best clothing, furniture, utensils, paintings, decorative and household items, along with spicy food treats from various states, all at very affordable prices. The biggest highlight of the event is that buyers can purchase handicraft items directly from the artisans without paying any extra GST.
Famous regional products gathered in one place
TrendKia visited the festival and spoke with the organisers, who said artisans had come in particular from states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Kashmir and West Bengal with their finest goods. On offer are Bhadohi carpets, Bhagalpur's famous silk, Khurja crockery, Saharanpur furniture, Indore's well-known namkeen and Bikaneri pickle, all items that stay in demand in Jaipur throughout the year. Alongside products from different states, these 100 stalls also feature special goods from various districts of Rajasthan, which visitors can buy at heavy discounts.
A paradise for women shoppers
According to the organisers, with the summer season in mind, the largest number of stalls this time feature women's clothing, which is why the fair feels like nothing short of a paradise for women. The handloom range includes Karnataka silk cotton sarees, Banarasi suits and sarees, Jaipuri block print sarees, Kalamkari and Kantha work sarees, Kanjivaram sarees, Kashmir shawls and Calcutta boutique sarees.
Apart from clothing, the fair offers every kind of household item as well as spicy edibles such as namkeen, dry fruits, pickles and papad, which traders prepare at home and bring here themselves. Products made by Jaipur's local artisans are also part of the line-up, including the city's signature blue pottery, Jaipuri mojadiya footwear and Jaipur print fabrics.
Open through July with free entry
It is worth noting that the shopping festivals and fairs held at Jawahar Kala Kendra usually run for at least a month so that people get as many days as possible to shop, and the Swadeshi Shilp Utsav too will continue through July. The fair stays open from 10 am to 11 pm. Organisers say more people turn up to shop in the evening than during the day, while Sundays draw the biggest crowds thanks to the weekly holiday. Parking and all other facilities are available for visitors, and entry to the fair has been kept completely free.
