40th “Hunar Haat”, organised by Union Ministry of Minority Affairs at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai

by Priya J

The momentous 40th edition of the “Hunar Haat”, a “credible and consummate” platform to “Preserve, Protect, Promote” “Swadeshi” and “Vocal for Local”, is being organised in a grand way in Mumbai from 16th to 27th April, 2022. About 1000 artisans and craftsmen from more than 31 States/UTs are participating in the Mumbai "Hunar Haat". 

“Hunar Haat” is strengthening the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call for “Vocal for Local” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. Besides, promoting ancestral arts and crafts evem from remote areas of the country, “Hunar Haat” has provided employment and employment opportunities to more than 9 lakh artisans and craftsmen within a short span of just 6 years. More than 50 per cent of these beneficiaries are women artisans. “Hunar Haat” has given wings to aspirations of these women artisans. On an average 8 to 10 lakh people have visited every “Hunar Haat”. So, more than 4 crore people have visited 39 “Hunar Haats”, organised across the country, to purchase indigenous products, to encourage artisans and craftsmen and also to enjoy various musical and cultural programmes in “Hunar Haats”. 

"Hunar Haat" has given a platform to the craftsmanship and handicrafts from far-flung areas of the country and has given them national and international recognition. “Hunar Haat” has become a strong platform to make “Local a Global Brand”. The younger generation of families associated with handicrafts, craftsmanship were moving away from their traditional ancestral legacy. Due to lack of market and opportunity, this legacy was on the verge of extinction. But, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken various effective steps for preservation, protection and promotion of the ancestral heritage of indigenous artisans and craftsmen.

Through programmes like "Hunar Haat", now the younger generation of artisans and craftsmen is also carrying forward their ancestral heritage as “Hunar Haat” has provided them tremendous opportunities. They have been linked to the mainstream of the economy. Today every artisan and craftsman of the "Hunar Haat" is selling a large number of indigenous products. “Hunar Haat” has brought economic revolution into the life of artisans and craftsmen. “Hunar Haat” is full of inspiring stories of artisans especially women artisans who have not only become independent themselves, but they have also supported their families through their earning at “Hunar Haat”.

About 1000 artisans and craftsmen, including a large number of women artisans, from more than 31 States/UTs are participating at “Hunar Haat”, in Mumbai. Artisans and craftsmen from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Goa, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu-Kashmir, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other places of the country have brought with them indigenous products at Mumbai “Hunar Haat”. The visitors at “Hunar Haat” are also enjoying traditional foods from different regions of the country at “Bawarchikhana” (food court). Besides, “Mera Ganv, Mera Desh”, “Vishwakarma Vatika”, circus, “Mahabharata” show, musical and cultural programmes, selfie points etc are major attraction of Mumbai “Hunar Haat”.

The people visiting to the 12-day “Hunar Haat” will also enjoy various musical and cultural programmes of renowned artists such as Annu Kapoor, Pankaj Udhas, Sudesh Bhosle, Suresh Wadkar, Sadhna Sargam, Amit Kumar, Shailendra Singh, Shabbir Kumar, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Bhoomi Trivedi, Kavita Paudwal, Daler Mehdi, Altaf Raja, Rekha Raj, Upasana Singh (comedy artist), Ehsan Qureshi (comedy artist), Bhupinder Singh Bhuppi, Rani Indrani, Mohit Khanna, Priya Malick, VIP Comedian, Jolly Mukherjee, Priyana Maitra, Vivek Mishra, Dipak Raja (comedy artist), Aditi Khandegal, Ankita Pathak, Sidhant Bhosle, Rahul Joshi, Supriya Joshi, Bhoomika Malick, Prem Bhatia, Posh James and others will enthral the audience at “Hunar Haat” in Mumbai. On 26th April, there will be a mega show where laser light show will be an attraction. Besides, the people will also enjoy “Antakshri” by Annu Kapoor.

“Hunar Haat” will also be organised in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Patna, Jammu, Chennai, Agra, Prayagraj, Goa, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Kota, Sikkim, Srinagar, Leh, Shillong, Ranchi, Agartala and other places in the coming days.