Crafts Museum At Trade Facilitation Center Varanasi

The newly built trade facilitation center in the oldest living city in the world has been in the news since it has been operational. We even considered it as a potential venue for our Yatra Conference but we ended up doing it at BHU. This time my exploration of Banarasi Silks took me to this new destination in the city.

We drove past Munshi Premchand Memorial in his ancestral village Lamhi. His home had been converted into a museum. Locals would tell you the stories of his characters, all of who lived around this house. I could not stop due to the paucity of time, but I highly recommend stopping here.

The trade facilitation center is meant to promote trade in Varanasi. We think of Kashi as a spiritual destination visited primarily by pilgrims. On the contrary, Varanasi has always been a center of trade, living at the crossroads where the two primary trade routes met. Yes, I am talking about the Uttarapath which runs east to west from Kabul to Dhaka, and Dakshinpath which runs north to south from Patna to Paithan.

Trade Center

Our scriptures are full of mentions of Kashi as a trade center. Remember Raja Harishchandra had to go to Kashi to sell himself, while he was the ruler of Ayodhya. Closer to our times, poet-saint Kabir was the weaver of Kashi and markets often feature in his poetry.

We know about Banarasi Saris and Banarasi Paan but there are many more things in Varanasi that have a GI tag awarded to them. Now, the museum at the trade facilitation center is an ode to all things Banarasi. In a way, this is a celebration of the city of Kashi, Varanasi, or Banaras. The only other museum that I have seen celebrating a city is Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai. But then, Kashi is far too vibrant nurturing so many art forms in its folds.

Trade Facilitation Center at Varanasi

At first look, the center in red sandstone looks like another building in Lutyens Delhi. Then the faint outlines create the impression of Temple Shikhara in golden shine and remind you that you are in Varanasi. It is a huge public space that can accommodate a lot of people both indoors and outdoor.

What I admired about this whole premises is its design. The elements of Varanasi – be it Buddha or Kabir or the five Bharat Ratna awardees from the city, or be it its arts and crafts or the famous ghats are never out of sight. I have often wondered why do we…