PUNE: The 14th edition of the annual Bhimthadi Jatra kicked-off in the city on Wednesday. The five-day festival will be held at Agriculture College Ground, Sinchan Nagar from December 18 to 22.
With more than 350 stalls, the theme of the festival this year is Wari, an age-old tradition of Maharashtra which is reflected through the décor. Panels are set up at the venue entrance to depict the history and culture of Wari in the State.
Organised by Agriculture Development Trust, Baramati, Bhimthadi Jatra is the brainchild of Trustee Sunanda Pawar, who said that this festival helped in providing a platform for marketing and connectivity.
She said, “In the last 14 years, it was our effort to bring the culture of rural areas in the urban environment and also help in providing a platform for marketing of their products. With Bhimthadi Jatra, there is direct connectivity between the consumers and producers, which help them in flourishing their business.”
She added, “This time, more than 350 stalls for clothes, home décor, organic food and food stalls among others are a part of the festival. Around 70 per cent of them are participating for the first time in the festival. This year, we tried to give maximum opportunity to new self-help groups.”
Saee Pawar Negi, Curator of Bhimtadi Jatra said, “There are 290 self-help groups from the State that are participating in the festival, while 29 stalls of women entrepreneurs from Pune and 40 weavers and artisans from different parts of the country who are working sustainably and keeping the art of handloom alive have taken part.”
Highlights of Bhimthadi Jatra
December 19: Live fusion music performance by folk artist from Barmer, Rajasthan, 7 pm onwards
December 19: Story telling workshop for children by Radhika Bagdai at 12.30 pm
December 20: Live Sufi music performance by a singer from Uttar Pradesh, 7 pm onwards
December 21: Marathi bhavgeet and dhol tasha, 7 pm onwards
December 22: Different ways of draping a nauvari saree by Nikayta at 4 pm
(As told by Saee Pawar Negi)
