Gandhinagar, Aug 10 — A new showroom of ‘Garvi Gurjari’ was inaugurated at Kudasan in Gandhinagar on Monday, with the state government seeking to give traditional handloom, handicrafts and tribal art greater access to buyers while creating more market opportunities for local artisans.
Khadi, Cottage and Rural Industries Minister Naresh Patel inaugurated the showroom in the presence of Minister of State, Swaroopji Thakor.
The outlet is operated by the Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited and will showcase traditional products from different parts of the state.
Patel said the government was committed to promoting the handloom sector and implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Vocal for Local’.
He said efforts were also being made to preserve traditional arts that form an important part of Gujarat’s cultural identity.
“Artisans from Patan, Surendranagar, Rajkot and Kutch continue to work hard to keep these traditional arts alive,” Patel said, adding that the new showroom would give people in Gujarat, other parts of the country and abroad an opportunity to access their products.
The minister said the initiative could also help attract younger generations towards traditional crafts and create additional employment opportunities in the handicrafts sector.
The showroom will offer traditional handloom products, handicrafts, embroidery, pottery, metal art, artistic home décor items and tribal art and craft products.
According to Patel, the initiative is intended not only to preserve traditional forms of art that face the risk of disappearing but also to provide artisans and artists with better market opportunities, recognition and avenues for self-reliance.
He described Garvi Gurjari as a platform reflecting Gujarat’s traditional craftsmanship, art and culture and the skills of its local artisans.
The inauguration was attended by Principal and Commissioner of Cottage and Rural Industries, Mohammad Shahid; Managing Director of the Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation, Garvi Gurjari, Ardra Agarwal, besides government officials, art enthusiasts and residents of Gandhinagar.
The new outlet adds another retail platform for products made by Gujarat’s handloom and handicraft communities, linking traditional craft production in districts such as Patan, Surendranagar, Rajkot and Kutch with consumers beyond the state.