![\"Art](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130419020,imgsize-158520,width-400,height-225,resizemode-72\/attendees-support-the-affected-members-through-the-bazaar-and-offer-condolences-with-their-purchase.jpg\" "\\"<p>Attendees")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAttendees support the affected members through the bazaar and offer condolences with their purchase<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The green-and-yellow decor at Dastkar may resemble any other event at the venue at first glance. But a closer look reveals the strain \u2013 artists wear tired smiles, conversations circle back to a shared loss, and stalls stand noticeably leaner. In the aftermath of a recent fire, Solidarity Bazar, a fundraising event till April 20, brought artisans back together \u2013 reaffirming that while the flames may have destroyed their work, they haven\u2019t dimmed their spirit.<\/p>\n A fire in the early hours of March 15 at Dastkar\u2019s Nature Bazaar venue in Chhatarpur damaged 42 stalls (Pic: @makon.home)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A fire in the early hours of March 15 at Dastkar\u2019s Nature Bazaar venue in Chhatarpur damaged 42 stalls during the Bonanza Bazar, destroying inventory and artworks. No casualties were reported, but the loss of art has deeply hit the community.<\/p>\n Manzoor Ahmad Khan displays the burnt scraps of pashmina shawls <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2018From ashes, we rise\u2019<\/span>The fire consumed craft shaped not just by skill, but by memory \u2013 pieces that carried generations of practice. In the days since, grief has given way to a quiet resilience. Blossoms of the Heaven shows the framed scraps of pashmina shawls, marked \u2018From ashes, we rise,\u2019 hold the artisan\u2019s efforts and tell a story of survival. Manzoor Ahmad Khan shares, \u201cOur loss is among the highest, around \u20b92 crore. Pashmina doesn\u2019t sell in this weather, so recovery has been slow. We\u2019ve been selling here for nine years\u2026 while we\u2019re managing, the artisans we work with have been hit the hardest.\u201d<\/p>\n Naqeeb sells hand-embroidered carpets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2018Long way to go\u2019<\/span>Artisans share that the support from Dastkar is helping them make progress, but there is still a long way to go. Selling hand-embroidered art from Kash mir for eight years, Naqeeb says, \u201cWe suffered losses of around \u20b91.25 crore. Our inventory included chain stitch embroidery using silk and wool threads, with a significant stock of carpets that were destroyed in the fire. While we\u2019ve sourced fresh stock from Kash mir, it will take a long time for us to recover from this setback.\u201d Putting up his stall for around a decade, Chand Mohammad explains, \u201cWe suffered a loss of around 50 lakh. Each piece takes at least three months to make; for instance, a heavily embroidered dupatta can take around a year to make. Even making the fabric takes time.\u201d<\/p>\n Meenakshi Sharma, founder of an upcycling brand<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2018Holding out hope\u2019<\/span>Though the bazaar lacked its usual bustle, artisans maintained a positive outlook. Mubeen and Sana, who sell hand-embroidered and ajrakh-print fabrics, were among the affected artisans. With a poster that read \u201cFire-affected stall, please support us,\u201d the two greeted customers with warm smiles. \u201cPura stall jal gaya tha. Hamara 60 lakh ka nuksan hua. Gujarat se phirse naya samaan leke aaye hain. Phirse shuru karenge toh dheere dheere ban jayega,\u201d he said.Meenakshi Sharma, founder of an upcycling brand, shares that their team is standing tall in the face of tragedy. \u201cWe had a permanent shop in Gali-e-Khaas, so we lost inventory from two shops in the fire. The loss was around \u20b99\u201310 lakh. We\u2019ve created the items we have within 20 days for the bazaar. Around 20 women artisans have helped us rebuild, and we prioritise their payments first.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Each piece takes at least three months to make,’ says Chand Muhammad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130419209\/a-fire-in-the-early-hours-of-march-15-at-dastkars-nature-bazaar-venue-in-chhatarpur-damaged-42-stalls.jpg\" "\\"A")
<\/p>\n![\"Manzoor](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130419076\/manzoor-ahmad-khan-displays-the-burnt-scraps-of-pashmina-shawls.jpg\" "\\"Manzoor")
<\/p>\n![\"Naqeeb](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130419122\/naqeeb-sells-hand-embroidered-carpets.jpg\" "\\"Naqeeb")
<\/p>\n![\"Meenakshi](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130419095\/meenakshi-sharma-founder-of-an-upcycling-brand.jpg\" "\\"Meenakshi")
<\/p>\n![\"'Each](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130419175\/each-piece-takes-at-least-three-months-to-make-says-chand-muhammad.jpg\" "\\"'Each")
<\/p>\n
![\"Mubeen](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130419223\/mubeen-and-sana-who-sell-hand-embroidered-and-ajrakh-print-fabrics-were-among-the-affected-artisans.jpg\" "\\"Mubeen")
<\/p>\n