ITRHD’s 12th Annual Craft Festival concludes in New Delhi with sales crossing ₹50 lakh
New Delhi : The 12th Annual Craft Festival, organised by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD), concluded in New Delhi on *Saturday* , marking one of the most successful editions of the festival to date. The four-day event brought artisans from Rajasthan’s border districts and rural eastern Uttar Pradesh into direct contact with urban markets, resulting in record sales and strong buyer engagement.
Held at Alliance Française New Delhi, Lodhi Estate, the festival enabled artisans to interact directly with buyers without intermediaries. According to the organisers, total sales crossed ₹50 lakh during the course of the exhibition, making this year’s festival the strongest so far in terms of both commercial outcomes and visibility for artisans.
The festival showcased crafts from Barmer district in western Rajasthan, located near the India– Pakistan border, as well as diverse cultural traditions from Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. Barmer Artisans demonstrated skills ranging from embroidery, appliqué work, leather craft, dhurrie weaving, and Ajrak printing. Mubarakpur from Azamgarh showcased handloom weaving and famous black pottery from Nizamabad. These offering gave NCR visitors rare insight into practices rooted in geographically and economically marginal regions.
Reflecting on the festival’s outcome, *Maureen Liebl, Co-Project Director and Trustee, ITRHD*, said, “The response this year has reaffirmed our belief that when artisans are given direct access to markets, the results are transformative. Crossing the ₹50 lakh mark is not just a financial milestone—it reflects growing public appreciation for authentic, handmade traditions and validates years of sustained work with artisan communities.”
*Madhu Khatri, Projects Director, ITRHD*, highlighted the long-term impact of the initiative, stating, “What makes this edition especially meaningful is that artisans were able to retain the full proceeds from their sales. Beyond income generation, the festival helps build lasting relationships between craftsmen and buyers, which is essential for the survival of these traditions.”
A major highlight from Uttar Pradesh was Nizamabad’s black pottery, which has emerged as a notable example of craft revival over the past decade. The pottery gained international attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented it to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the G7 Summit in Germany in June 2022. Several pieces on display were created by members of the original artisan family associated with the revival of the craft.
From Azamgarh, the festival also featured handloom weaving traditions from Mubarakpur—long associated with Banarasi sarees—as well as the cultural heritage of Hariharpur village. The latter is known for its classical music lineage linked to the Banaras gharana, with a special recital held during the festival adding a performative dimension to the exhibition.
ITRHD noted that it has been working consistently with artisans from Barmer for the past six to seven years, expanding participation annually. In addition to exhibitions, the Trust supports artisans through design interventions, product diversification, and access to multiple platforms, while covering participation-related costs to ensure artisans benefit directly from sales.
Now in its 12th year, the Annual Craft Festival has become a regular fixture in New Delhi’s cultural calendar. ITRHD also organises a similar annual craft event at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, supported by the fort’s trustees, to ensure sustained engagement with artisan communities in Rajasthan.
The strong turnout, record sales, and growing public interest this year underscore the relevance of market-linked, culturally sensitive platforms in preserving India’s living craft traditions while ensuring dignified livelihoods for artisans.
