Artisans take the spotlight at Haath Ka Bana heritage week in Delhi

Staying rooted in the ethos of 'Haath Ka Bana', the Heritage Week honoured handmade heritage as a living, breathing expression of India’s cultural memory. The week-long celebration created a space where craft is experienced not merely as an object but as the outcome of years of dedication, skill, and intergenerational knowledge carried by artisans. At its heart, the event reinforced that true heritage is preserved only when the makers themselves remain central to the narrative.

Haath Ka Bana is a social enterprise that promotes traditional folk art and crafts of India which are fading with time. It brought artisans into the spotlight at this year's Handicrafts & Heritage Week, an art festival celebrating India's everlasting handmade traditions through demonstrations, workshops, and immersive interactions with master craftspersons. Visitors witnessed live demonstrations led by master artists who uphold rare and fading traditions. This year, the spotlight shone on nationally recognised artisans whose work represents distinct storytelling legacies across India.

A distinguished Gond artist from Madhya Pradesh, Choti Tekam's journey began with encouragement from the renowned Ram Singh Urveti, who first provided her with the materials to explore her talent. Today, she continues her practice with the National Museum of Mankind (Bhopal), creating works that reinterpret Gond cosmology through contemporary lenses.

A master of Kerala's classical mural tradition, Naveen Bhaskar is known for his intricate, deeply symbolic narrative murals inspired by temple architecture. He has painted over 40 temples across Kerala, preserving one of India’s oldest visual storytelling practices with exceptional devotion and skill. His presence at the festival offers visitors an intimate view into a practice defined by patience, purity of line, and a profound connection to heritage.

Haath Ka Bana positions craftsmanship not as a relic, but as a living cultural experience, one that evolves while remaining anchored in its origins. The exhibition design blended time-honoured and contemporary elements, allowing visitors to experience each craft both as a meticulous process and a layered narrative. Walking through the space, guests encountered the rhythm of handmade creation, slow, deliberate, and deeply rooted in memory.

Prashant Singh, Founder, Haath Ka Bana, noted, "The impact of such platforms extends far beyond immediate sales. True empowerment begins when artisans gain sustained visibility, respect, and dignity within the market ecosystem. Consistent events like Heritage Week create long-term value by opening new networks, connecting artisans with designers, institutions, and collaborators, while also building confidence and cultural pride. Over time, these platforms also act as gateways to digital and global opportunities, aligning artisans with India's rapidly evolving creative economy."

The festival hosted artist-led multiple workshops such as Gond Art Workshop, Madhubani Workshop, and Chitrakathi Workshop. These hands-on experiences offered participants an opportunity to explore symbolic motifs, storytelling traditions, and the cultural vocabulary embedded in each art form. Handicrafts & Heritage Week celebrated not just the objects crafted but the people who create them—their lives, their stories, and their unwavering commitment to keeping India's handmade identity alive.