Artisans upset as Hunar Haat in Delhi closes early

As the coronavirus continues to creep across the national capital, the 'Hunar Haat', which was organised from November 11 to 22, has been closed two days before. Due to this, artisans and craftsmen expressed sadness and said the last two days were Saturday and Sunday and they had expected a high footfall.

New Delhi: Amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the national capital, the 'Hunar Haat', which was organised from November 11 to 22, has been closed two days before.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, the artisans and craftsmen who had come to 'Hunar Haat' after a gap of seven months, with the hope of good business, expressed sadness and said the last two days were Saturday and Sunday and they had thought of high footfall.

"If the government would have not closed it two days before then we might have got a good profit," they said.

Abdul Gaffar, a Hyderabad-based handloom businessman, said, "The response from the customers arriving at my shop was good considering the increasing coronavirus cases. If the government would have not cut short this then we would have earned more profit."

"We have sold our wooden handicrafts in previous Hunar Haats too but this time due to the coronavirus pandemic, our business was not good. We somehow managed our livelihood in the last seven months and had thought that this time we will earn well. But, the government has decided to close it two days before," said Mohammad Saleem, a Wooden handicraft shopkeeper from Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur.

"We thought that at the weekend we will sell our handicrafts in good numbers but sadly this didn't happen. Now, we hope that in the next Hunar Haat, will see more customers," he added.

During the inauguration of 'Hunar Haat' on November 11, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said that 'Hunar Haat' is becoming an effective platform to strengthen the mission of "Aatm Nirbhar Bharat" and "Vocal for Local" by promoting and encouraging indigenous products of master artisans and craftsmen.

More than 100 stalls like dry flowers from Assam; Pochampally Ikkat from Andhra Pradesh; Munga Silk, Madhubani Painting and artificial jewellery from Bihar; glass toys from Uttar Pradesh; Pashmina shawls from Ladakh and various other handicrafts were available for sale at the 'Hunar Haat' at Delhi Haat.