Embassy of India in Guatemala Hosted a Trade Exhibition of Indian Handicrafts

Acting President of the Republic of Guatemala Inaugurated the Exhibition in the presence of diplomats from various countries

I.S. Saluja in Guatemala City

CAYALA CITY, GUATEMALA (TIP): The Embassy of India in Guatemala. hosted an impressive trade exhibition of Indian handicrafts from September 22 to September 24, 2022, in Cayala City, Guatemala. The 3-day exhibition, organized by B &S foundation and Export Promotion Council of Handicrafts, India was inaugurated on September 22 by the acting President of the Republic of Guatemala, Mr. Guillermo Castillo Reyes who, in his brief address congratulated India’s ambassador to Guatemala Mr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra for having gotten the artisans from India to showcase their talent and products in Guatemala. Present on the occasion were elected representatives and officials of Guatemala government, and diplomats from various countries.

(Logo of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, without caption)

The exhibition was a part of the celebration of India’s 75 years of independence which is being observed as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The National Award winner artisans with the acting President of the Republic of GuatemalaMr. Guillermo Castillo Reyes.

10 Master artisans arrived from India to give a live demonstration of their art and craft. They all were national award winners. They included Mrs. Bharti Dayal who won the National Award in 2006 for the craft of Mithila Painting, Mr. Kalyan Prasad Joshi who got a National Award in 2010 for the craft of Phad Painting, Mrs. KanukubenAmrutlalVankar who won a National Award in 2011 for the craft of Kutchi Vegetable Indigo Cotton Silk Saree, Mr. LacchiRam who won a National Award in 2006 for the craft of Terracotta, Mr. Mohammad Nasir who won a National Award in 2017 for the craft of Hand Block Print, Mr. Mohammad Haroon who won a National Award in 2007 for the craft of Wood Carving, Mr. Poonam Arjan Vankar who won a National Award in 2013 for the craft of woolen RabariKheshado shawl, Mrs. Pushpa Harit who won a National Award for the craft of Tribal Beads Jewelry, Mr. Roop Kishore Soniwho won a National Award in 2015 for the craft of Silver Engraving, and Mr. Vivekananda Bagchi who won a National Award in 2010 for the craft of Cane and Bamboo.

The acting President of the Republic of Guatemala, Mr. Guillermo Castillo Reyes visiting booths of artisans and interacting with them.

The acting president Guillermo visited each of the booths and looked at the magic of the gifted hands that had woven magic andspoke with the artisans about their art and craft. He was gracious enough to spend time at each of the booths and interact with the artisans and also let them have a photograph with him. The artisans presented him with souvenirs. India’s ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala Mr. ManojKumar Mohapatra. suggested to the acting president to send to India artisans from Guatemala to interact with the artisans in India and to explore a market for their products.

Mr. Reyes at the Eye Foundation of America booth. Ambassador Manoj Kumar Mohapatra and Prof. Indrajit Saluja described to His Excellency the acting President the humanitarian work the Eye Foundation of America was doing.

The acting President also visited the booth of the Eye Foundation of Americawherehe was informed about the great humanitarian work being done by the Eye Foundation of America, which was founded byDr. V. K. Raju, an eminentophthalmologist based in Morgantown, West Virginia.Introducing the Eye Foundation to His Excellency, the acting President, Prof. Indrajit Saluja said that Dr. Raju’s vision is to have a world without childhood blindness. The foundationhas been providing eye care in many parts of the world like Africa, India and India’s neighboring countries. Prof. Saluja said that Ambassador Mohapatra was keen to have the Eye Foundation of America to provide eye care to Guatemala children, and work towards a Guatemala without childhood blindness Professor Saluja pointed out that the Eye Foundation of America has performed close to 400,000 surgeries and corrected or restored the vision of thousands across the world. Allthis is pro bono the Eye Foundation does notlook atthe work it is doing as a commercial proposition but as a humanitarian service. His Excellency was very pleased and said he would welcome the Eyefoundation to Guatemala.Ambassador Manoj Mohapatra also spoketo the acting President about the Eye Foundation of America and informed his excellency that Dr.V.K. Raju, the president of the Eye Foundation of America would soon be visiting Guatemala to assess and determine thekind and extent of the services required in Guatemala.

A day before the trade exhibition embassy of India hosted a fashion show in which the modelsdisplayedIndian textiles and dresses. The two-hour fashion show was immensely appreciated by the gathering which included, among others, Ava Arevalo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cultural Matters, and diplomats from a number of countries. A day after the inauguration of the Trade Exhibition, Ambassador of India, Mr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra hosted a dinner at which the acting president of Guatemala was the chief guest. The guests included ministers and officials of Guatemala government and diplomats from variouscountries, the artisans who had come from India and the Indian origin community members.

Addressing the gathering, India’s ambassador spoke aboutthe areas of cooperation between India and Guatemala and invited the government of Guatemala for and mutually beneficial alliance in the areas of trade and commerce.

The Embassy of India in Guatemala also organized a Yoga session for schoolchildren. In the scenic City of Panajechel on September 24. About 40 excitedstudents participated in the Yoga session. I was quite surprised to have found Yoga making way into the Guatemala schools. Ambassador Mohapatra told me that the Embassy organized Yoga camps on a regular basis. It was evident that the Embassy of India had popularized Yoga in Guatemala.