Lucknow: Hand-knitted sweaters and mufflers from Haldwani, traditional Uttarakhandi jewellery and colourful folk-art home décor emerged as major attractions at the 14-day Uttarakhand Mahotsav at Govind Ballabh Pant Sanskriti Upvan on Thursday.Visitors thronged stalls showcasing handcrafted woollens made from yak, rabbit and goat wool. Sonali, a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Ranikhet, has built a team of around 45-50 women who hand-knit sweaters, mufflers, ponchos, socks and caps.“I started this business in 2015 with just Rs 3,000 and one woman helper, who was my domestic help, and gradually, driven by my passion, more women joined me to earn, so today, my annual turnover is around Rs 6-7 lakh,” she said.Customer Renu Dobriyal, buying sweaters, said, “Hand-knitted sweaters have a warmth and grace of their own.”Traditional jewellery from Uttarakhand also caught the attention of shoppers, particularly women exploring distinctive designs such as gulubandh, ponchi, jhumki, pichod, mala posh and Nepalese tilhari.“I find this jewellery very stylish and it has very different designs,” said customer Sana Afroz. Tanya Bajaj, who purchased a Nepalese tilhari, said, “This is a Nepalese mangalsutra and I loved its design and beadwork.”Art enthusiasts, meanwhile, were drawn to Pattachitra, Madhubani and Aipan artworks, displayed alongside mugs, paintings, wall hangings, lamps, showpieces and flower pots.Stall owner from Bengal, Hemant, said, “I create Pattachitra, Aipan, Madhubani, Gond art and Kalamkari. I have a team of 13 workers who help create these products.”Aradhana Mishra, who admired the traditional paintings, said, “Aipan and Madhubani art beautifully reflect India’s rich cultural heritage. Their intricate patterns, vibrant colours and traditional motifs make them perfect for home décor while keeping our folk-art traditions alive.”The exhibition offered visitors an opportunity to explore India’s diverse craft traditions while supporting artisans and women-led enterprises.
