Online portal launched to market products from Bundelkhand

Bhopal, Jul 17: Youths in Bundelkhand region, infamous for its backwardness, have decided to change the perception about this area by launching a chain of exclusive stores and online platform to market products that give it a distinct identity.

A group of youths from the region have launched a website 'brandbundelkhand.com'.

"I belong to Budelkhand and have grown up hearing stories about the rich heritage of the region including that of valour of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Maharaja Chhatrasal and Dr Hari Singh Gour, among others... "It is home to a world famous diamond reserve, rich wildlife including tigers and Khajuraho temples.

We have decided to change this tag of backwardness by highlighting uniqueness of the region through an online portal," social worker Sachin Chaudhary told PTI today.

"brandbundelkhand.com is an exclusive portal offering famous Mahoba's paan, Sagar's Chironji barfi, namkeen, Orchha's kalakand, Banda's Sohan Halwa, Baruasagar's pede and number of mouthwatering Bundeli dishes," he said.

An exclusive retail store has been opened with the same name in an upscale mall here, which will showcase Bundelkhand's products. "We will be setting up similar stores in all metro cities of the country to change the perception about the region and to inform people about the richness of the region," Chaudhary said.

Besides, the store and online platform will sell Chanderi's famous sari which has attracted Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor, Ranipur's Terrycot and local Khadi cloth. It will also offer T-shirts having photos of Bundelkhand's stalwarts, litterateurs and artifacts.

The website will also offer tour packages to visitors presenting places other than Orchha and Khajuraho and which remain unknown to the outside world. Handicraft items like Lalitpur's Jakhoura, Tikamgarh and Mahoba's brass statues, display items made from carving stones, Bundeli paintings, among others, will be available to the people through this store and online platform.

"We have already launched the online platform at the national level sometime back and it has attracted a very good and encouraging response," Chaudhary added. According to him, they will also offer 'prasad' of famous temples of Datia, Orchha and Chitrakoot through the platform.

"It will also offer a platform to Bundeli artists to showcase their talent in any part of the country," Chauhdary said. He is confident that the initiative will help in changing people's perception and help in employment generation.

PTI