Ekta Nagar, Nov 5: Traditional shell art products from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the handicrafts on display at Bharat Parv 2026 in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar, where more than 25,000 visitors attended the first three days of the 15-day festival. The exhibition, which brings together crafts, cuisines and cultural traditions from states and Union Territories, will continue until November 15 at the venue near the Statue of Unity.
The Union Ministry of Tourism, in association with Gujarat Tourism, organised the festival under the theme ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. The event provides participating regions with exhibition spaces to present their tourism destinations, traditional art forms, handicrafts and handloom products.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands feature through shell art products, while other participating regions have brought a range of traditional crafts reflecting their respective cultural identities. Odisha is showcasing Sambalpuri sarees, Pattachitra paintings, applique work and silver filigree, while Assam has displayed Muga silk and Mekhela-Chadar. Bihar’s exhibits include Madhubani paintings, Bhagalpur silk and Sikki grass craft, alongside Chanderi and Maheshwari sarees and Gond art from Madhya Pradesh.
Pashmina and Kani shawls from Jammu and Kashmir, Pochampally Ikat sarees from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat’s Patola, Pithora art and Ajrakh printing are also part of the exhibition. Bamboo crafts from Chhattisgarh add to the range of regional products.
Artisans are demonstrating traditional production techniques at the venue, allowing visitors to observe craft-making processes. The exhibition also enables visitors to purchase handloom and handicraft products directly from participating artisans and exhibitors.
Regional food is another component of the festival, with 25 stalls representing states and regions including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Sikkim, Assam, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat. Their menus include Bihar’s Litti Chokha and Thekua, Rajasthan’s Dal Baati and Pyaz Kachori, Madhya Pradesh’s Gajak and Ratlam Sev, and West Bengal’s Jhalmuri and Patisapta Pitha.
Visitors can also find Veg Momo and Sel Roti from Sikkim, along with Nadru Yakhni and Zafrani Kahwa from Kashmir. Studio Kitchens operated by IIHM Shimla and IIHM Gandhinagar are conducting daily live demonstrations of Indian cuisines, showcasing regional cooking methods and dishes.
Evening programmes feature folk music, traditional dances and other cultural performances by artists from different states.
Separately, the Statue of Unity will remain open on November 9, a Monday, during the Bharat Parv and Diwali holiday period. However, its viewing gallery will remain closed that day.
