Artigianati.com

Craftpersons from various regions demonstrate their skills. Photo by K Murali Kumar

by Bhumika K

When you see a banana fibre bag, what you see is a cool “green” accessory, one that matches with your beige pants. When you see a colourful “ethnic” wound-thread necklace with black metal pieces, you see funky jewellery to go with your kurta. Of course it is. What they also are, are markers of transition. Drop in some time before April 18 at Mother Earth, the indigenous fair trade craft store in the city, and you'll figure out why, if you talk to some of the women demonstrating their skill at the store as part of a handicraft exhibition.

Lali Bai, a Lambani woman from the Minsnal Tanda (group) near Bijapur, has been selling her embroidered pieces on bags, wall-hangings for the last 12 years. Traditionally, her Lambani community was nomadic, travelling from place to place. Today, her family is settled in a village 25 kilometres from Bijapur, and they work in agricultural fields. Ask her why she continues to do the traditional embroidery and Lali Bai says “So that I don't waste time!” and grins. “Otherwise I get equally good money doing agriculture, growing jola.” So embroidery figures somewhere in between working in the fields, running home, and raising three kids.