Hyderabad, July 18: Kausalyam 2026, the flagship craft and textile festival organised by the Crafts Council of Telangana (CCT), concluded on Thursday at Anvaya Convention in Hyderabad’s Financial District after three days of celebrating India’s rich handmade heritage, traditional textiles and artisan craftsmanship.
Held once every five years, the festival was organised by the Crafts Council of Telangana in collaboration with textile revivalist Gaurang Shah. The event featured more than 75 textile studios and craft exhibitors, over 120 stalls and more than 40 curated collections representing India’s diverse handcrafted traditions.
Kausalyam 2026 attracted craft enthusiasts, designers, collectors, entrepreneurs and supporters of handmade products, reflecting growing interest in sustainable and artisan made creations.
Among the prominent visitors were Geetha Reddy, Nara Bhuvaneshwari and Surekha Konidela, along with members of Hyderabad’s cultural, business and philanthropic communities.
One of the festival’s highlights was the Textile Museum, which showcased the history and evolution of India’s textile traditions. Visitors also experienced Sita Anveshana, a Telugu and English leather puppetry performance inspired by the Ramayana, and Virata Parvam, an augmented reality presentation based on the traditional Cheriyal Scroll art.
The event also featured Conversations with Craftpreneurs, enabling visitors to interact with artisans, designers, textile revivalists and creative entrepreneurs working to preserve India’s craft traditions.
The Crafts Council of Telangana said Kausalyam is more than an exhibition and aims to preserve traditional knowledge, create sustainable livelihoods for artisans and inspire younger generations to value India’s handmade heritage.
A key objective of the festival was fundraising for artisan welfare. Proceeds from Kausalyam 2026 will support the revival of the Bharoon Embroidery Cluster, an endangered Sindhi embroidery tradition, with a focus on generating sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women artisans.
The festival also extended assistance to artisans affected by the fire at Dastkar Nature Bazaar in New Delhi through the Threads of Hope Bazaar initiative.
Established in 1987, the Crafts Council of Telangana has worked for nearly four decades to preserve and promote traditional crafts through exhibitions, artisan development programmes and cultural initiatives.
Organisers thanked exhibitors, artisans, partners, volunteers and visitors for contributing to the success of Kausalyam 2026.
