India Handmade Comes Alive at EPCH event in Bareilly: Handlooms & Handicrafts Under One Roof

25th February 2026, Bareilly: The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is organizing “Bharatiya Hastkala Utsav – Handicrafts Exhibition” from 25th February to 3rd March 2026 at Bareilly Cantonment, Bareilly. The event is being held as an exhibition-cum-sale platform, offering visitors an excellent opportunity to explore and purchase authentic Indian handcrafted products.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by the ‘Chief Guest’ Dr. Umesh Gautam, Mayor, Bareilly along with Dr. Tanu Jain (IDES), CEO, Bareilly Cantonment Board; Shilpa Gual, Defence Estate Officer, Bareilly Cantonment; Pulkit Jain, Assistant Director, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); Sushil Kumar Agrawal, Deputy Director, EPCH and participating artisans.

While addressing the gathering Dr. Umesh Gautam, Mayor, Bareilly shared that “Bharatiya Hastkala Utsav is a meaningful initiative to celebrate India’s rich craft heritage while creating direct market opportunities for artisans and micro enterprises. The quality and variety of handcrafted products showcased at the exhibition will encourage each one to visit the fair, support handmade products and promote local craftsmanship. He further added that such platforms strengthen livelihoods, preserve traditional skills, and contribute to inclusive economic growth by connecting artisans directly with consumers.”

The dignitaries also interacted with artisans and appreciated the craftsmanship and product variety on display, encouraging greater visibility and market access for artisan led products.
Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman, EPCH, shared that, “Bharatiya Hastkala Utsav is an important step towards strengthening domestic market opportunities for our artisans and craft enterprises. Such exhibition-cum-sale platforms help connect handcrafted products directly with discerning consumers, promote ‘India Handmade’ at the grassroots level and reinforce pride in our living craft heritage.”

Dr. Khanna further shared that “Such initiatives are supported by Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and are implemented through EPCH plays a meaningful role in expanding market outreach while sustaining artisan livelihoods”.

Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairman, EPCH, added, “This exhibition brings a strong retail opportunity to Bareilly, where visitors can experience a wide spectrum of handlooms and handicrafts under one roof. Our effort is to help craft producers improve product presentation, packaging and market readiness so that buyer interest converts into repeat demand and sustained domestic business.”

The fair will be open to visitors on all five days from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM and is being organized as a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) event. It aims to promote on-the-spot sales while also offering significant opportunities for volume buyers, retail shoppers, and other professionals.

Rajesh Rawat, Executive Director, EPCH, remarked, “EPCH has been consistently making efforts to promote regional crafts by creating effective marketing platforms, particularly for micro and small entrepreneurs, artisans, and craftspeople. The Bareilly exhibition is featuring a vibrant and diverse range of product lines including Wooden Toys from Chitrakoot, Leather Craft from Jodhpur, Handcrafted Jewellery from Sambhal, Stone Carving from Agra, Hand Embroidery from Hubli, Bheel Pithore Painting from Indore and many more are among the key attractions offering buyers and visitors an opportunity to experience distinctive regional craftsmanship and export-quality handmade excellence under one roof.

Rawat further added that “EPCH extends its sincere gratitude to the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, for their continuous guidance and support, which have been pivotal in elevating such initiatives and amplifying the reach of India’s handicraft.”