Kerala Tourism Minister flags off Sargaalaya Heritage Tour

The Handicrafts Heritage Tour, organised by the Sargaalaya Arts and Crafts Village, was flagged off by the Minister for Co-Operation, Tourism and Devaswom, Government of Kerala, Kadakampally Surendran in Thiruvananthapuram. The Sargaalaya Handicrafts Heritage Tour will travel from the state capital to Kasargod and will pass through various villages known for its tradition, arts and handicrafts.
On the occasion, Minister for Excise and Labour T.P. Ramakrishnan was also present. The Heritage Tour is being organised in the run up to the seventh annual ‘Sargaalaya International Arts and Crafts Festival’, scheduled to be held between December 21, 2017 and January 8, 2018 at the Sargaalaya Village at Iringal in Kozhikode. The handicrafts festival is being organised with the support of the Departments of Tourism, Industries, Culture, and Coir, Government of Kerala.
The festival will have the participation of more than 400 artisans from as many as 25 states in India. Besides, artisans from South Africa, Egypt, Uganda, Nepal, Sri Lanka will also be participating in the event. The Sargaalaya International Arts and Crafts Festival will put on display-and-sale handicrafts items made by around 500 artisans.
The festival will also include arts and entertainment programs organised under the aegis of the Central government’s South Zone Cultural Centre, Tanjavur; the State Department of Culture’s Bharat Bhavan; and the Kerala Folklore Academy.
Artisans from villages like Aranmula (known for the renowned Aranmula Mirror), Thazhava (known for unique mats), Perumbava (renowned for the manufacture of Mridangam and Maddalam), Vellinezhi (known for the decorative accessories used in Kathakali make up), Aruvacode (famous for clay products), Cherppu (known for wooden handicrafts items) and Kunhimangaalam (famous for the manufacture of metal handicrafts products) will be a part of this mega event.
Further, handicraft products of the likes of Balaramapuram Saree, Chennamangalam Dhoti, Palakkad Set Mundu, Koothambulli Saree, Kannur Furnishings, Kasargod Saree, would be put up on display at special pavilions during the festival.
The flag off ceremony was also attended by Uralunkal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) Chairman Sri. Paleri Ramesan; Managing Director Sri. S Shaju, Sargaalaya Chief Executive Officer Sri. PP Bhaskaran, General Manager Sri. T K Rajesh; Hospitality Manager Sri. M T Suresh Babu; Senior Marketing Manager Sri. P Pradeep Kumar; Marketing Manager Sri. Deepak. R among others.