New Delhi: Union minister of State for Electronics, IT and Skill Development Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday said the Kerala pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) has recreated a mini Kerala at the national capital and it offers the people outside the state a good opportunity to experience the Kerala culture, art and tradition. He was speaking after visiting the pavilion at IITF at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

“I am very happy to be here and see the cultural ambience created at the pavilion. Kerala’s culture, tradition, art and architecture are perfectly showcased here,” the minister said.

About the pavilion and stalls, he further said, “The ambience is great. The stalls are very good. The pavilion is designed in such a way that it resembles the theme of ‘God’s Own Country’. The diversity of the state is perfectly displayed here. It is a good opportunity for the people of other parts of the country to visit the pavilion and experience the richness of Kerala culture.”

On the importance of giving protection to the traditional artworks and skills, the minister said, “such trade fairs also offer artists, artisans and skilled workers a grand opening to showcase their artworks and talents at the national level. It’s a great encouragement especially to some art forms like traditional puppetry (thol pavakkoothu) and items like Aranmula kannadi (mirror made of polishing metal), which face extinction. They need to be protected. We will realize the need of protecting them only when we see such things on occasions like this,” the minister added.