I am a sucker for offbeat shopping places. These hidden nooks have some excellent items and very affordable prices. Tribes Mahadev Road is one of them.
Tribes has been set up under the aegis of Trifed. TRIFED stands for (Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India). Trifed was set up in 1987 with an aim to market products made by various tribes across India. This would provide an impetus for the artisans to continue with their crafts.
The shop has been retailing “assured organic products” which are being procured directly from the various Tribal communities and NGOs working with tribes for their upliftment in far off areas. Most of these producers are very small and produce only very limited quantities of such products. They are cultivated in such far flung areas where fertilizers and chemicals have not yet invaded. So we are very sure that each of the product is free from fertilizer and chemical. Hence the products can be termed “assured organic” since the area of procurement is very well known. Knowing the background of the people there, there is no possibility of chemcialisation of the cultivation process. The regions from which the products are being sourced include the South – Nilgiris, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Jagdalpur and Andhra Pradesh.
The place still exists. Tribes has since grown to have outlets across the country. It has an outlet in the Rajeev Gandhi Handicraft Bhawan Complex. The products have grown to include a range from handlooms and handicrafts to include agro products as well. The excellent range of agro products includes honey, spices, rajma. There was a time when I picked up some excellent off beat sherbets of cashew-apple, bael, rhododendron and naragi. They have Mahua based drinks and tea. The products have grown to upmarket offerings and include handmade soaps, exotic coffee, tea and the like. The jewellery section has some excellent beaded jewellery from Nagaland and other hill tribes. There are some very interesting range of stoles and shawls. The wool ranging from Yak, Merino to Pashmina. There are sarees, bed spreads, stitched garments, pottery, wood carving... The hallmark is weaves from Tribals from across India. In particular - Orissa, Jharkhand, Manipur, North Eastern States. There is dhokra, wrought iron works from Bastar, tussar and silk stoles, rare shawls and more.
Timings – Morning 10.00 am to 6.30 pm. Closed on Sundays. The one at Dilli Haat is opened 7 days a week.
Where - 9, Mahadev Road, Behind Indian Airlines Building. Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, in the middle of the Emporiums. Dilli Haat where they have a sprawling space right at the entrance. The Mahadev Road shop also has a café at the back.
Highlights - The shop has interesting off beat items. There are North East stoles with auspicious motifs. The range of Kurtas (both long and short) for men sourced from the North East is to die for. The beautiful colour combinations in cotton teamed with woven embroidery stands out. The colours are very nice and price affordable. The same goes for the range of woollen stoles and shawls.
Insider Tip – The Ukhrul – Manipur black pottery range of products is brilliant. The range includes mugs, teapots, bowls and more. I have picked some beautiful Naga bead necklaces. Huge dhokra gates and outdoor pieces can be seen outside. Monkeys abound but they do not disturb. The parking space at Mahadev Road is abundant. The recent Aadi Mahotsav inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Dhyan Chand National Stadium was under the aegis. It is also a one stop sourcing ground for tribal products.
