India has such a rich tradition of fairs and festivals celebrating so many different aspects of communities’ lives. With a more than ample supply of opportunities, where is one to start to glean ideas from India's folk traditions to bring to events around the world?

India has a network of Zonal Cultural Centres, all with a remit of servicing the folk traditions of their geographical areas. On some occasions two zonal centres overlap in one State. This arises where a State government agrees to support more than one zonal centre, recognising that their State relates to more than one region.

Each centre supports its folk traditions in regionally determined ways. The West Zone Cultural Centre at Udaipur in Rajasthan has one festival that is a treasure chest of performances and crafts stalls.

Sidi Goma Dancers	Sugna Ram, Rawan Hatta player	Site design

‘Shilpgram Utsav’ takes place near Udaipur every year during the last ten days of December. It attracts tens of thousand of visitors from within the country and from abroad. The 2006 Utsav is from 22 to 31 December.

Batiq printed cloth	Throws/Drapes	Torans

In a changing world with craftsmen everywhere facing challenging globalisation that can threaten their ages-old traditions, Shilpgram Utsav attempts to bring the creations of hundreds of talented craftsmen to the doorsteps of the common man, eliminating middlemen. More than 400 craftsmen and artisans from all over the country put up their stalls in the traditional Haat Bazaar environment of Shilpgram.  There they create, exhibit and sell their wares, in some cases, masterpieces.

Lanterns and Umbrellas	Bow and Arrows	Gotipua Dancers

Every evening the visitor sees a riotous colour of folk dances and music from various parts of the country. During the day the visitor sees street performance around the extensive stalls area.

Article researched for Melange Network by Alan Tweedie