The Department of Textiles and Handicrafts, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, has organized ‘Gandhi Bunkar.
Mela’, a National Handloom Expo, is currently on in the city. The national-level expo is sponsored by
the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, and is being held from
16th to 29th of December 2023, between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., at Arunachal Bhawan Ground in Block CE, Salt
Lake City, Kolkata (near the CGO Complex).
Take A Piece Of India Home
It features an exhibition and sale of handicrafts from across the country, including the northeastern
states. A total of 80 stalls have been set up with a charming range of crafts and handloom products.
There are participants from across the country who have come to Kolkata to showcase their products at
the exhibition. This diverse attendance includes participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, and last but not least, the host state of West Bengal.
The formal opening ceremony of the Gandhi Bunkar Mela was held on December 16 in the presence of
the Additional Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh in Kolkata, Shri Kajal Karmakar, APCS,
the former Dy. Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Subhasish Nath, and guests
from the Weavers Service Centre Kolkata, represented by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms).
Also in attendance was Dr. Leki Wangchuk, the Hon’ble Chairman of, the Arunachal Pradesh Food Commission.
Students from Arunachal Pradesh studying in Kolkata presented delightful traditional dances and songs.
Smaller Participants Thankful For The Platform Of Expos
Participants from various stalls also presented a song collectively, and in their respective speeches, they thanked
the government for the initiative and platform to showcase their skills. One of the participants also
dwelt upon the uplift that such expos provide to small tribal craftsmen and weavers, as it allows them to
benefit from marketing support that they otherwise could not have funded.
The footfall at the expo included many from Arunachal Pradesh who visited to experience the feeling of
a home away from home there. The response to the Gandhi Bunkar Mela has been encouraging.
Stallholders are hopeful of satisfactory turnout and sales.
Bengali