Shilpgram is a hindi word which translates itself to Village Of Art And Craft. Shilpgram is situated 3kms west to the famous Fateh Sagar Lake in Udaipur.
It’s a State sponsored living musium stretched on a 70 acre land on the foothills of Aravali. Shilpgram or the Rural Arts and Crafts Village in Udaipur is one of the seven centers of the West Zone Cultural Center (WZCC), established by the government in 1986.
Every year in the end of the year, a 10-day festival is organised which shows glimpses of the complete rural India within the 70 acre itself. There are 26 representative huts of member states in this craft village, incorporating traditional architectural features of different ethnic groups residing within the Zone.
Artisans and craftsmen from all over the nation join this festival to display their best outcome of their art and culture for which their zone is best renowned. Be it the warm woolens from Jammu and Kashmir, or even the Bamboo artwork from far east states, the famous Banarasi silk sarees, along with our very own Rajasthani craftwork, from hand-crafted key chains and bangles, to glasswork, pottery and even furnitures, everything can be seen waiting for you at the festival. All the items are not for display alone; you may purchase the things available with your free will, and take them home with you.
At the entrance you find the traditional dancers welcoming you. Mud huts with thatched roofs make out the splendid village scene, with you yourself witnessing it live. Hungry after walking so long? There are plenty of mouth watering food and “DESI” fast-food items from different traditions, in your way.
Moreover, in these 10-days every evening you can also witness the rich culture of India, via the juvenile traditional and cultural folk programmes, each day with a different theme and different heart throbbing programmes on the open-theatre stage at shilpgram.
Not only Udaipies(Udaipur Guys), but people from all across the globe eagerly wait for this once-a-year fest, and to be a part of it. So what are you waiting for dear udaipies? Just make up your mind and be proud to be a part of this unique fest of its kind, going back to your rich cultural roots.
A Post By Prasun Bannerjee
