Jaipur: From handmade crochet products and sea buckthorn-enriched juice to flowers made of corn husk, Amrita Haat at Jawahar Kala Kendra is bringing together more than 170 women-led self-help groups from across the state from Oct 11 to 20.Beyond the products on display, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the stories of women building livelihoods and supporting their families through a platform that charges no stall rent.
Khemshri at her stall in JKK
A poster advertising sea buckthorn-enriched juice caught my attention. At the stall, Seema Khatri (44) from Pawanpuri, Bikaner, was displaying products under her Aayushi Herbals brand. Burn scars over her hands and neck were enough to tell her story of childhood abuse and domestic violence. Despite this, today she is the sole earning member of her family with three children and a husband who’s a habitual drinker.Her journey started with just two bottles of hair oil when her daughter fell ill. Today, she sells 10 natural self-care products.
Bhanwari Devi at her stall in JKK
Twenty-six-year-old Khemshri from Tonk brings a contemporary touch to crochet art. Her products include curtain ties inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s paintings and spectacle cases featuring the evil-eye motif. She has also built a network of small artists and expanded sales across the state.For Bhawar Devi from Udaipur’s Bhinder block, entrepreneurship has transformed the lives of 13 tribal women in her self-help group. The group makes hand-stitched jackets and shirts. She and her specially abled daughter support each other and handle sales, while profits are divided equally among the women.81-year-old Laxmi Ramawat from Jodhpur started an achar papad business when she lost her son and husband. This business, born out of struggle, today empowers 55 women.
Saroj Yadav
Laxmi Ramawat
Seema Khatri
Khemshri
