Bangalore, July 24 - 'We have come from a distant land, from far-off northeastern India. Hopefully you'll like our indigenous artefacts.' That was what artisans from northeast India say as they welcome hordes of visitors to an exhibition here.

Along with wooing art connoisseurs of Bangalore with their beautiful indigenous handloom and handicrafts, the artisans are interacting with visitors and 'enlightening and demystifying' various aspects about the northeastern region of the country.

'We're not only about militancy and violence. The northeast region has its unique art and culture. Ours is a very vibrant region and our handloom and handicraft heritage is a testimony to it,' Yanger Ao, 47-year-old tribal craftsman from Mokokchung, 162 km from Kohima, the capital town of Nagaland, told IANS on the sidelines of the fair.

'A lot of misconceptions prevails across India about the northeast. Now, it is time to enlighten people about us and demystify the myths about the region and its people. Hopefully, through our varied and strong lineage of art works, we'll be able to make some fans for the region in Bangalore,' smiled Ao, who has brought intricately made wooden furniture.

The exhibition-cum-sale of artworks has been organised by North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited. The exhibition under way at the campus of the Ganapathi Seva Samiti started July 15 and will be on till Aug 2.

'Along with selling and popularising highly artistic indigenous hand works of the region, artisans are also interacting with visitors and informing them about the land and its people,' said an official of the corporation.

'The rarity and beauty of the art works of northeastern India is unparalleled, but due to lack of exposure, artisans are not making much profit. Along with giving the artisans a first-hand exposure of various places in India, we are also trying to popularise handicrafts of the region,' added the official, who did not wish to be named.

The exhibition features artisans from the seven sister states -- Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.