The Indian Handicraft and Handloom (IHH) Fest will be held in Dammam, Riyadh, and in Jeddah in coordination with “Soul of India”, the Saudi Arabian branch of Handicraft and Handloom Corporation of India. The exhibition will be held at the Riyadh Palace Hotel on January 26 and 27, Jeddah Golden Tulip Hotel on January 29 and 30 and in Al-Khobar on February 2 and 3, said Abraham Valiyakala, General Manager of Soul of India. Products by various handcraft makers will be displayed for the whole day. “Special sale corners of these products will also be set up at the exhibition centers. The public can exhibit their own items after registering and the best stall will be awarded,” the organizers said. Drawing competition for children will be held on the second day of the festival. The competition will be based on age group 4 to 6, 7 to 9, 10 to 13 and 14 to 17 and on different subjects which contain Indian culture and unity. The “Food Fest” is one of the program's attractions. The best “food stall” will be selected for the prize. “Varakkoottam”, a drawing competition which will depict Indian cultural diversity, will be held for artists. A committee in Dammam will run the program. Sideek Ahmed, Kerala Industrial Development Corporation Director Board member, CMD for ITL & ERAM Group of Companies and a well- known businessman in Saudi Arabia, was unanimously selected as committee chairman. Several prominent figures from various social, cultural and religious organizations and media persons are expected to attend the festival. The committee said it wholeheartedly supports the festival as it will promote the Indian handicraft and handloom trade in Saudi Arabia. India Fair 2012, HDFC, Rezayath, Mantri, Credai, CCIIT, Nirmal and Jaypee will be associate partners for the event. As part of the closing ceremony, artists will compete in “Gana Sandhya”, the musical program. __
