Sargaalaya craft village, where spirit of cultural integration permeates every stall

The first time Sachin Aich visited Kozhikode, he was captivated by the local hospitality and the authentic flavours of the region, tastes he found incomparable to anywhere else in Kerala. Today, as the artisan from East Kolkata returns for his fourth appearance at the ongoing Sargaalaya International Arts and Crafts Festival at Iringal near Vadakara, the trip feels less like a business journey and more like a homecoming.

​“Kozhikode is close to my heart now,” the 38-year-old says, seated amid his bamboo and cane creations. For Sachin, the festival is a platform for artisans to share their personal journeys and the heritage of their craft.

​In a quiet corner of the pavilion, Nafees Ahmed of Uttar Pradesh meticulously carves woodcrafts from rosewood and sheesham. “The coastal breeze here creates a different world from the dry, humid weather of Uttar Pradesh, and the rich, soulful flavours of Kozhikode have captured my heart,” he says.

​At the Bihar stall, newcomer Rahul Anand is finding immediate success with his hand-printed textiles. “People mostly prefer sarees, dupattas, and materials with detailed hand-printed designs that capture the emotion of his village-born crafts,” he says.

​This spirit of cultural integration permeates every stall, transforming the craft village into a vibrant India in a nutshell. Beneath every canopy, craftsmen narrate tales of resilience, inherited tradition, and cultural wisdom, cementing Sargaalaya’s reputation as a premier destination for art lovers nationwide.

​Nasira Khatun Monda, who exhibits across Delhi and other cities, displays an exquisite array of Kolkata’s hand-embroidered Kantha sarees. Despite her busy national schedule, the overwhelmingly positive local response has brought her back to Iringal for nearly a decade. Similarly, Seema Khakha and her husband, Jitendra Singh, have become festival mainstays since 2022. Showcasing crochet bags and jewellery unique to Jharkhand, they say in unison, “Our crafts are loved here, so we have become regulars.”

​While many thrive, others note the changing tides of fashion. Sushma Rani N. from Telangana says that sales for her hand-loomed and block-printed Kalamkari garments have dipped. “Last year, sales were at their peak, but this year, perhaps the trend is slowly shifting away from the traditional earthy kalamkari,” she maintains.

​Nakhata Ram, attending for the fifth time with his Rajasthani terracotta wares, views the festival as more than a marketplace. “I see this as an opportunity to connect with people and learn about their craft,” he says. Anil Varma from Madhya Pradesh, selling handcrafted leather toys, remains hopeful despite modest sales. “We are optimistic about the crowds in the coming days,” he says.