An Enjoyable Desert

If you have been planning a trip to Rajasthan for some time now and haven’t been able to put it into action,here’s your chance to see what the state has to offer,without stepping too far. A slice of Rajasthan is camping in the city by way of a Rajasthan Art and Craft Festival 2012. Organised by the Government of Rajasthan at Himachal Bhawan in Sector 28,the festival (more like an exhibition) aims to promote the region’s culture and art in Chandigarh. There are around 70 stalls displaying traditional Rajasthani textiles,handicrafts,marble paintings,stone jewellery,pottery et al. With winter on its way out,the stalls offering block-printed cotton fabric are a huge hit. Coming in from Jaipur is jewellery in kundan-meena work and the exhibition is dotted with stalls offering a range of silver and stone-embellished trinkets as well. As far as prices go,it’s pocket-friendly and affordable,you can take home a pair of bangles for less than Rs 250. If you are looking for linen,then the exhibition has a lot on offer. Take your pick from bedspreads,bedsheets,cushion covers and tableware. The exhibition also brings in a taste of the state with its food counter alongside special churan,namkeenwallahs and a counter dishing specials like mirchi ka pakora and dal bati churma. The festival is on till March 18.