BHUBANESWAR: Department of Handloom, Textiles and Handicraft is all set to organise the 14th edition of Toshali National Craft Mela at Janta Maidan from Dec 15 to 27.
This was announced by Minister, Handloom, Textiles and Handicraft, Padmini Dian at a press conference held at I and PR conference hall here Thursday. The craft mela has already crafted a unique niche of its own in the country’s annual carnival calendar.
This year, the fair will host 380 stalls out of which 50 weavers from diverse states of the country will be sponsored by Government of India. Similarly, 150 artisans and 80 weavers of the state will be sponsored by DH and CI, Odisha and Directorate of textiles and handlooms respectively.
The fair will be from 11 am to 9:30 pm in the evening. Cultural programmes will be performed in all the evenings. Traditional folk dance and music will be performed during the day.
Around 40 food stalls from diverse hotels and restaurants will offer visitors the taste of multi-cuisine along with traditional Odia delicacies.
The mela will be friendly for differently- abled and senior citizens. Accessible, inclusive and sustainable (AIS) will be the motto of the fair. A special help desk will be setup with provision of wheel chair and designated parking space for the smooth movement and visit of differently-abled and senior citizens.
Besides, info related to the fair will be printed in Braille and circulated among visually impaired visitors. A special baby care room will also be available for mother and baby.
A special theme pavilion is conceptualised with the theme ‘Kalinga Tantakruti.’ The theme pavilion will be at the centre and will showcase the tradition of handloom culture and transformation of Odisha handloom.
4 selfie zones will be erected by SIDAC students at the site. ATM machines, first-aid centres and play zones for children will also be available at the fair.
More than 22 lakh people will visit the fair and products worth more than Rs 21.50 crore is expected to be sold.
