New York's first Indian Arts Market featured ceremonial clothing, traditional jewelry and handmade crafts.

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

UPPER EAST SIDE — The Asia Society has invited New Yorkers to experience their version of an Indian market at their Upper East Side museum this Thursday through Saturday.

The Indian Folk Arts Market features embroidery, jewelry, and printed saris, and will highlight the culture and artistry behind the craftsmanship through discussions and demonstrations.

The Asia Society partnered with the organizations India Abroad, Indo-American Arts Council, and the Crafts Council of India to bring the continent’s local artisans to New York.

As part of the presentation, various artisans took turns Thursday demonstrating how their crafts are made, showing dying, looming and embroidery techniques.

“We are trying to take the tradition, creativity and excellence of these skilled craftsmen and make it sustainable,” said Manjari Nirula, vice president of the Crafts Council of India. “It is steeped in their tradition, and now we are trying to make it marketable.”

The room was filled with gold, red and blue materials that shimmered and sparkled as artisans from the regions Benares, Kutch, Bhuj and Guyanat displayed them.

“The colors go beyond the color chart,” Benares artisan Mallika Mathur, 33, said, as she demonstrated the different types of woven materials on her table, such as tanchoi silks and kantha (a type of embroidery) and applique stitching.

“It’s joyous and gorgeous,” East Village painter Nicole Blau gushed. “We get so much from the lowest common denominator here in New York — all the stuff sold on 14th street — and it’s wonderful to see how beautiful good quality crafts can be.”

The items for sale range from $4 to $800 in price, and feature both casual and ceremonial clothing.

“It’s beautiful,” Lynda Crawford, a writer from Gramercy, said. “It’s like a feast for the eyes.”