Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Artisans from Goa took part in the Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav held at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad from November 22 to December 1, 2025, highlighting the rich and diverse craft traditions of the State alongside those from other parts of western India.
The festival was organised jointly by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Tourism, and brought together artisans from five western States. Goa’s participation was facilitated through the Handicrafts Service Centre, Panaji.
A total of 15 artisans represented Goa at the exhibition, presenting a wide range of traditional and contemporary crafts. These included Kaavi art by Sagar Naik Mule; pottery and terracotta works by Sharad Kadari Kumbhar; crochet creations by Joseph John Shriguru and Prem Kumari Joseph; jute crafts by Hema V Bugde; sea-shell crafts by Raziyayabegum A Mirasab; silk-thread jewellery by Shweta G Sawardekar; sea-shell jewellery by Roja U Kholkar; embroidery and crochet by Nikita Morajkar; coconut shell artefacts by Sonali S Shetgoankar and Vijay Datta Lotlikar; hand embroidery by Namrata Nashlonkar; bamboo furniture by Vishal V Pareshekar; bamboo basketry by Sonali Parwar; and Azulejos tile paintings by Shankar T Turi.
Several artisans also conducted live craft demonstrations during the Mahotsav, offering visitors an opportunity to observe traditional techniques and engage directly with the creators, adding a dynamic cultural element to the exhibition.
The event received special recognition with a visit by President Droupadi Murmu, who interacted with the participating artisans and expressed appreciation for their skill, creativity and contribution to preserving India’s handicraft heritage.
