Tamil Nadu displays its art at " Ganesh Darshan' exhibition

Mumbai, Aug 22 (UNI) A collection of Tamil Nadu's arts and handicrafts were on display at the ongoing two-week long ''Ganesh Darshan'' exhibition, organized by 'Poompuhar', the state's Handicrafts Development Corporation (HDC) at Sunderbhai Hall.

The highlight of the exhibition were Ganesh statues in various mediums-wood, brass, precious and semi-precious stones, paintings and included rare collection of 32 set Sodasa Upchara Ganesha.

''We have showcased a wide variety of handmade Ganeshas to give customers a choice in what they want. Our bronze Ganeshas sell the most and they are unique to Tamil Nadu and India, ''said Poompuhar Manager V Subbaiyan.

Other displays included 1.5 tonne bronze Lakshmi statue handmade by 15 artisans. The two-year labour of love had a price tag of Rs 52 lakhs. Also in the exhibition were dancing Natrajans in bronze, rosewood dinning sets, jade statues, canvas paintings, Tanjore Art plates, leather goods and handicrafts with prices starting from Rs 20.

Poompuhar has held the exhibition for the past two decades to promote the crafts of Tamil Nadu and improve the living standards of the state's artisans.

It has 18 showrooms around the country including one each in New Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore, illuminated V Subbaiyan.

Tamil Nadu exported handicrafts worth Rs 20,963 crores in 2006-07 and last year's exhibition in Mumbai fetched Rs 40 lakhs. The exhibition will close on September three.

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