ITANAGAR, OCT 24:

Gandhi Shilp Bazaar 2026, showcasing the handloom, handicraft and cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast, was inaugurated at Mopin Solung Ground here on Saturday.

Organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC), in association with the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, the 10-day bazaar will continue until November 2.

The inauguration was attended by NEHHDC Managing Director Mara Kocho, Regional Director (North Eastern Region) of the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Hara Kanta Baro and the Senior Assistant Director of the Handicrafts Service Centre, Itanagar.

Featuring 56 stalls, the bazaar provides a platform for artisans, weavers and craftspersons to display and sell their products to a wider audience, while promoting the region’s traditional craftsmanship and cultural diversity.

The exhibition brings together traditional textiles, handwoven products, indigenous crafts and other handmade items reflecting the artistic skills and cultural knowledge passed down through generations in communities across the Northeast.

Besides offering visitors an opportunity to explore and purchase traditional products, the bazaar aims to improve market access and visibility for artisans, helping them expand their businesses and sustain their livelihoods.

The initiative also seeks to encourage greater appreciation of traditional craftsmanship, which represents not only the region’s cultural identity but also a source of livelihood and entrepreneurship for artisan communities.