KARACHI: Women in traditional Thari dresses, their headscarf veiling their faces, danced with their men in white to the beat of Mor Tho Tilay Rana. On one side more men also spun round and round as they balanced poles with decorated clay pots on their heads.

Artisans from Badin, Umerkot, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Khairpur and Mithi along with several other cities of Sindh came together on the lawns of Mohatta Palace to showcase their art as the three-day 1st Ralli Exhibition and Competition organised by the culture, tourism and antiquities department opened here on Saturday.

Ralli-making is a labour of love as was evident from the price of some pieces. Most of the pieces cost thousands of rupees with several priced in six digits. While the cheapest one in the exhibition was for Rs5,000, the most expensive one was priced at Rs3 million. A couple of Arabs in thawbs seemed to be hovering over it, something which pleased the stall owner immensely.

The expensive pieces also took a long time to make. Sonu Meghwar from Mithi, who was selling his best ralli for Rs2 million said that it took his wife, Nainoo, nine years to make. “It is made from pure silk yarn, which we had ordered from Rajasthan, India. Back in 1981, it [yarn] cost us Rs2,000 per tola (11.66 grams),” Sonu said.

“A businessman visiting Mithi from India, a few years ago, offered to buy it for Rs800,000. He wanted to showcase it in an exhibition in India since it was made from Indian silk but I refused,” he shared.

Another ralli priced at Rs850,000 was said to be completed in 18 months by 60 women in Umerkot. The women represented Anmol Organisation and all their work was exhibited at their stall.

For those who thought the ralli was beyond their pockets, there were also table covers, cushion covers and hand fans decorated with the same kind of appliqué work as on the quilts.

Not all ralli in the exhibition were for sale though. Some like Zarina Bibi just couldn’t part with her creations. “I have worked painstakingly day and night to make this ralli. I have only entered it for competition here. It is not for sale,” she said.

The event on the first day was graced by Minister for Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Minister for Law Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar and MPAs Dr Lal Chand Ukrani, Awais Qadir Shah and Poonjo Bheel. It also drew interest from several foreign dignitaries from various consulates in Karachi who were also present on the occasion to enjoy the traditional music and culture of Sindh while appreciating the handicrafts.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2017