Four-day festival at Alliance Française connected rural artisans from Rajasthan and eastern Uttar Pradesh directly with urban buyers, delivering record sales, cultural visibility, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
New Delhi | January 10, 2026
The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD) successfully concluded its 12th Annual Craft Festival in New Delhi, marking a milestone edition with total sales exceeding ₹50 lakh. The four-day event emerged as one of the most impactful editions so far, both in terms of commercial success and artisan outreach.
Hosted at Alliance Française, Lodhi Estate, the festival brought together master craftsmen from Rajasthan’s border districts and rural eastern Uttar Pradesh, offering them direct access to urban consumers without the involvement of intermediaries. Organisers said the strong buyer response and record-breaking sales highlighted growing appreciation for authentic, handcrafted products.
Artisans from Barmer district in western Rajasthan—located close to the India–Pakistan border—presented a wide range of traditional crafts, including embroidery, appliqué, leatherwork, dhurrie weaving, and Ajrak printing. From Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district, crafts such as Mubarakpur’s handloom textiles and the renowned Nizamabad black pottery drew particular attention from visitors.
Commenting on the festival’s success, Maureen Liebl, Co-Project Director and Trustee, ITRHD, said the results reaffirm the organisation’s long-standing approach of connecting artisans directly with markets. She noted that surpassing the ₹50 lakh sales mark reflects not only economic achievement but also increasing public respect for handmade traditions nurtured over years of community engagement.
Projects Director Madhu Khatri emphasised the long-term value of such initiatives, pointing out that artisans retained the entire income from their sales. She added that beyond immediate earnings, the festival helps foster enduring relationships between craftsmen and buyers, which is crucial for sustaining traditional skills.
One of the key highlights was Nizamabad’s black pottery, a craft that has seen renewed recognition over the past decade. The art form gained international visibility after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented it to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the G7 Summit in Germany in 2022. Several exhibited pieces were created by artisans from the original families associated with the craft’s revival.
The festival also showcased the cultural depth of Azamgarh through Mubarakpur’s weaving heritage and Hariharpur village’s classical music tradition linked to the Banaras gharana. A special classical music recital during the event added a rich cultural layer to the exhibition.
ITRHD stated that it has been working closely with Barmer artisans for over six years, steadily expanding participation. Alongside exhibitions, the Trust supports artisans through design guidance, product diversification, and access to multiple platforms, while bearing participation costs to ensure artisans receive full financial benefits.
Now in its 12th year, the Annual Craft Festival has become a prominent fixture in New Delhi’s cultural landscape. ITRHD also hosts a similar annual craft event at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, reinforcing its commitment to long-term engagement with artisan communities.
The festival’s strong turnout, record sales, and enthusiastic public response underline the importance of culturally rooted, market-linked platforms in preserving India’s living craft traditions while ensuring dignified and sustainable livelihoods for artisans.
