Dast-e-Hunar: Traders Demand Extension

Srinagar, Sept 23: Despite recent strikes, artisans and weavers at “Dast-e-Hunar National Expo-2012” are satisfied with sales so far. However, they have demanded the extension of 5 more days to compensate for the lost days of business.
We are happy with sales but due to strikes and protests we lost few days. It would be great for all of us, if the department at least increases 5 days more to run the exhibition, said Noor-ul-Ansar who sells sarees at a stall.
Appealing Director of Handloom Department to extend the date, another artisan from Panipat said, First couple of days, we hardly did any business but slowly sales started picking up. As of now, my sales are satisfactory but we should be given more time to exhibit our goods.
Almost 80 stall owners from different parts of India are taking part in the exhibition offering numerous varieties of Banarasi silk sarees, home furnishing, bed covers, rugs, duries, kani shawls, pashmina shawls, raffal suiting cloth, stoals, scarves, Badohi carpets and tweed cloth.
Exhibition has managed to draw people to Kashmir Haat (Erstwhile Numaish Ghar). Exhibition is taking place after a long gap of 26 years. During evenings, Haat witnesses hustle and bustle as men and women are seen purchasing goods from different stores.
Artisans also demanded that government should give maximum publicity to national expo. To make it grand success government should run advertisement on daily basis till the last day of expo. It will draw people not from cities but from rural areas as well, said owner of J.S Satya Enterprises from Andhra Pradesh.
Aarifa Nabi, who was purchasing curtains at the stall said, The variety and range of curtains are incredible and most importantly curtains are available at affordable rates. These kinds of exhibitions should be held more often, she said.

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