Until Sunday 1 October, the Borvo Center offers a collection of a thousand and one wonders of India.

He was initiated by the association Re Ba – Djin Pa founded in 2008, which means “Hope and Generosity” founded in Le Boulay, near Epinal of which Marie-Laure Crook and her brother Sébastien Clerc were the pillars.

The aim is to help the poorest groups in India and Nepal, where the population is very smiling and poor. One of its components is the sponsorship of families totaling around sixty people from Grand Est, a one-time action. This makes it possible to provide support at all levels for leprosy; and all donations are paid in full to the sponsored family. This increase came from the Savencia group of the Vosges cheese factory in Tholy which made it possible to cultivate a vegetable garden near the sponsorship center, located 20 km from Pondicherry, making it possible to feed the family. “We also bought a tractor” added Marie-Laure.

The members of the Vosges family were completely voluntary, covering all their expenses both in France and in India. When traveling, they take warm clothes, baby clothes, soap, dressing supplies, toys and stuffed animals to the pharmacy for the children.

The pandemic slowed down these actions due to travel restrictions. But contact remains and continues thanks to WhatsApp. “It’s a real joy for the family when they see us because they have a great attachment” explains Marie-Laure.

A magical show

The circular architecture of the Borvo Center allows for the highlighting of impressive decorations and other batiks, T-shirts, large format photographs of faces, landscapes and scenes of daily life, a number of artisanal creations including singing bowls, ritual objects, prayer wheels

Colorful outfits including iconic Sarees and Punjabis are paired with handmade shawls, jewelery and bags. The elephant remains the star animal, available in bone, stone and resin form. Success for the Kukhuri, the Nepalese army knife, short and curved, made from buffalo bone and skin.

Admission is free every day from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00, as well as on Sunday 1 October, the closing day, from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00.