The Future Ai

Attendees support the affected members through the bazaar and offer condolences with their purchase.

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 – 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 – reaffirming that while the flames may have destroyed their work, they haven’t dimmed their spirit.

A fire in the early hours of March 15 at Dastkar’s Nature Bazaar venue in Chhatarpur damaged 42 stalls (Pic: @makon.home)

A fire in the early hours of March 15 at Dastkar’s 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.

Manzoor Ahmad Khan displays the burnt scraps of pashmina shawls

‘From ashes, we rise’The fire consumed craft shaped not just by skill, but by memory – 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 ‘From ashes, we rise,’ hold the artisan’s efforts and tell a story of survival. Manzoor Ahmad Khan shares, “Our loss is among the highest, around ₹2 crore. Pashmina doesn’t sell in this weather, so recovery has been slow. We’ve been selling here for nine years…while we’re managing, the artisans we work with have been hit the hardest.”

Naqeeb sells hand-embroidered carpets

‘Long way to go’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 Kashmir for eight years, Naqeeb says, “We suffered losses of around ₹1.25 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’ve sourced fresh stock from Kashmir, it will take a long time for us to recover from this setback.Putting up his stall for around a decade, Chand Mohammad explains, “We 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.”

Meenakshi Sharma, founder of an upcycling brand

‘Holding out hope’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 “Fire-affected stall, please support us,” the two greeted customers with warm smiles. “The entire stall was gutted. We had a loss of Rs 60 lakh. A new era has come from Gujarat. If you start then you will be defeated soon,” he said.Meenakshi Sharma, founder of an upcycling brand, shares that their team is standing tall in the face of tragedy. “We had a permanent shop in Gali-e-Khaas, so we lost inventory from two shops in the fire. The loss was around ₹9–10 lakh. We’ve created the items we have within 20 days for the bazaar. Around 20 women artisans have helped us rebuild, and we prioritize their payments first.”

‘Each piece takes at least three months to make,’ says Chand Muhammad

Mubeen and Sana, who sell hand-embroidered and ajrakh-print fabrics, were among the affected artisans.