Kolkata: The West Bengal Government is set to launch a 23-day-long handloom exhibition-cum-sale Banglar Tanter Haat-2008 here on August 31 to showcase the entire range of traditional handloom produces of Bengal and boost their marketing.

Announcing this here yesterday, state s Textile Minister Manabendra Mukherjee told reporters that the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would inaugurate the fair showcasing Baluchari, Jamdani, Tangail, Tangail Jamdani, Muslin, Santipuri, Begampuri, Dhaniakhali and Koreal sarees among some of the exquisite varieties of handloom fabrics of the state.

This would be the second such Handloom Fair in the state which would be attended by over 200 artisans, while the first such fair was attended by 151 participants last year yielding Rs 2.28 crore, the minister said.

Apart from wide range of traditional sarees, the fair would showcase a range of home furnishings, ladies and gents dress materials, export-oriented scarves and stoles made of cotton, silk, wool and linen enriched with attractive and modern designs, new colour combinations and finishing, he said.

Mukherjee also said that this event would give an opportunity to our potential buyers especially the urban customers to view and purchase handloom fabrics of their choice directly from the producers at a very reasonable price.

This event would also help the artisans to interact with the buyers to know their choice and fabrics, he said.

The minister further said that a textile park would come up soon over 12.5 acres of land in Salt Lake area, while Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela would lay its foundation stone on September 2.
Source : PTI