Goan artisans fail to make hay while the sun shines
by PREETU NAIR / Navhind Times

CHANGING trends, people’s growing disinterest towards folk festivals, inflation, wrong timing and poor publicity has led to a drastic fall in the sale of Goan arts and crafts in the Folk Festival- 2002, alleged the artisans, participating in the 8-day folk festival, currently held at Kala Academy.

However, the organisers, Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa and Kala Academy, Goa said that the allegations were completely baseless. “Instead of complaining, the Goan artisans need to improve their business acumen and understand the taste of the people. While artisans from other states lure their customers with new and innovative items, we Goans are indifferent to their needs,” said Kala Academy member secretary, Mr S V Rane.

The Folk Festival- 2002 is being organised by Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa and Kala Academy, Goa in collaboration with West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur to promote the culture and tradition of Goa.

“Due to changing trends, Goan youth are now indifferent towards their art and culture. Such festivals give an opportunity to the people to understand their rich arts and crafts. Moreover, it also gives an opportunity to the Goan artisans and craftsmen to interact with artisans from other states and learn their craft,” said Mr Rane.

“In order to ensure that the Goan artisans enrich from the festival, Kala Academy is planning to organise a meeting between the artisans of  Goa and other states on the last day of the festival. This will give the Goan artisans an opportunity to understand the works of artisans from other states,” Mr Rane added.

But almost all Goan artisans believe that the festival is a complete failure, as it has not achieved the very motto of popularising Goan arts and crafts. “We hardly have any customers. More and more people are shying away from Goan arts and crafts. As a Goan, it hurts me to see people rejecting Goan items and purchasing items from other states,” complained Suhas Shetye, who is selling Goan sweets and snacks at the festival.

Shetye is not the only one complaining. Most of the artisans are crying foul that they have been given shops in the corner and so are a neglected lot. “Customers hardly notice our items. They purchase items from the stalls in the front and then go to watch the folk dances,” mused Rajni Kudao, who is selling art works like Goamonkey, lamps made of coconut and other showpieces, typical of Goan culture and tradition.

The artisans feel that the government should send them to other states in order to promote Goan art and culture. “Goan items are available in the shops, so people don’t feel the need to purchase these items during such festivals. If the government is truly interested in promoting Goan art and culture then they should send us to other states to promote and popularise our arts and crafts,” suggested Maryam Rasha, who’s selling Goan dresses at the festival.

Besides, the craftsmen rue that the timing of the festival is wrong. “It is month end and customers’ pockets are empty. So we hardly have any customers. In this sense, the fair is a complete failure,” said another craftsmen Rajesh Chitari.

Another reason for the loss in sales according to the artisans is people’s growing disinterest towards such festivals. “Last few months saw  more than three festivals, wherein items from Goa and other states were sold. Too much of exhibitions have resulted in a fall-out in the number of customers coming for this national festival,” said MS Shirodkar, who is selling shell items.

He also added that the organisers should ensure that more and more tourists visit such festivals, as they are the regular patrons of Goan items and so such festivals should focus on foreign customers rather than the local ones.