Patna: The Director of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Varanasi, Dr Sanjay Shrivastava, has appealed to trainees learning Sikki art to keep practicing the traditional craft even after their formal training ends. He said that art forms like Sikki, if not continuously practiced, risk disappearing with time. Dr Shrivastava was speaking at the closing ceremony of the ten-day Capacity Building Programme on Promotion of Sikki Art and Design, held at the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) in Patna.
Dr Shrivastava distributed certificates to the trainees and praised their dedication. He urged them to treat Sikki art not only as a skill but as a passion that can be practiced at home and passed on to future generations. He also said that NIFT would explore new ways to market and brand Sikki products so that this traditional art can reach a wider audience and create more income opportunities for local artisans.
During the event, ADRI’s Member-Secretary, Dr Ashmita Gupta, motivated the trainees to give their best efforts in mastering the art form. She said that Sikki art represents a part of Bihar’s cultural identity and must be kept alive through continuous learning and creativity. Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Colonel Anil Sinha, Dr Ushasi Gupta, and Dr Sunita Lall, who all appreciated the initiative and the hard work of the participants.
The ten-day programme was organised by the EIACP Centre of CSEC at ADRI. The CSEC is ADRI’s special unit that focuses on climate change and sustainability work. It operates with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. The programme was coordinated by EIACP Coordinator Dr Mousumi Gupta and EIACP Programme Officer Dr Sunil Kumar Gupta. ADRI team members Gulshan Patel, Sakshi Shubham, and Mausam Bahar also played an important role in managing and organising the event smoothly.
