Artwork made with recycled and hand painted paper incorporating Indian motifs and patterns.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Festival of Handmade is back in the city, happily timed for the season when every one is on the look out for the perfect gift. The organisers, A Hundred Hands, are showcasing the beauty and versatility of Indian motifs for their 15th edition.
According to Mala Dhawan, co-founder of A Hundred Hands (AHH), every motif exhibits a singularity depending on the artisan’s place of origin. “For instance, the paisley motif of Kashmir is quite different from the one seen in South India. The tribal art motifs of Orissa and Chhattisgarh, though nature-based, are also geometric by design. These are a few of the interesting things visitors can look out for.”
“The artisans have also designed a few new motifs for the bazaar and we encourage them to talk about the significance of these patterns in their work,” she adds.
From the 15th edition of Festival of Handmade
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
With each edition, the organisers have introduced something new and this year is no exception. Aside from the stalls buzzing with handicrafts, this year too, will see events unfolding over five days and includes a talk on the significance of various Indian motifs by expert Chandra Jain. “Chandra is a revivalist and an expert on textiles. She will be speaking about the significance of certain motifs, specifically the Benarasi motif,” says Mala.
The AHH fashion show too, has a twist thrown in. “So many people aspire to be models, so this year, if they pick up an outfit at the festival, designer Prasad Bidapa will help them style it, and they can walk the ramp with him,” she adds.
For those who are not sure if their choices and tastes are in sync, especially since the range is quite wide and could be overwhelming, a personal shopping assistant or style guide will be available to help with colours and styles. “You can also bounce ideas and suggestions off the stylist if you don’t want her personally accompanying you while you’re shopping.”
From the 15th edition of Festival of Handmade
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
According to Mala, Crafty Meets, the Bengaluru-based community, is inviting works of art and craft to be part of their installation at the venue. “Anyone can bring some of their works and add to the community art project; they could also learn the basics of crochet with them.”
Apart from a huge collection of Christmas ornaments and decor, this year visitors can book their entry tickets via BookMyShow.
Festival of Handmade by A Hundred Hands is at Jayamahal Palace Hotel till November 30. Schedule of events and workshops on social media. Entry fee ₹100 available at the venue and BookMyShow
Published – November 26, 2025 11:17 pm IST
