KOHIMA: A 13-day state handloom fair, Hathkargha Mela, started on Thursday at Kohima village ground in Nagaland with a rich collection of indigenous handicrafts and textiles. The fair is aimed at promoting the handloom and handicraft industries, where artisans and weavers from Nagaland and other states gather to display their skills and sell their products.
The expo features a range of products made from natural fibers such as stinging nettle, orange rhea, indigenous cotton and eri silk. Apart from this, local handicrafts produced from cane and bamboo are also showcased, giving an insight into the region's rich cultural diversity.
Organized by the Nagaland Directorate of Industries and Commerce and sponsored by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the expo is under the aegis of the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP). It aims to provide weavers with direct market exposure, making them more visible and financially independent.
There are a total of 60 exhibitors, of which 48 belong to the handloom industry and 12 to the handicraft industry. They hail from every district of Nagaland, as well as Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Assam.
Along with the expo, the Industries and Commerce Department has also started registration of Pechan cards for the participants who do not have them, allowing them to access different schemes and programs provided by the Ministry of Textiles.
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