National-Level Pallishree Mela In Odisha’s Cuttack To Be Bigger This Year

Cuttack: After a gap of two years, the national-level Pallishree Mela will be held at Baliyatra ground in Odisha’s Cuttack from November 8 to November 16.

This year there will be 420 stalls against the usual 380, having products ranging from handlooms, and handicrafts to rural homemade spices and household articles from different districts of Odisha and 14 other states, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Andhra Pradesh.

“We have also planned to set up four demonstration stalls in association with OLM and Mission Shakti to showcase the method and process of making terracotta products, ‘Kantha’ stitched products, handlooms, ‘dokra’ and other products made by women self-help group members,” TNIE quoted Joint CEO, ORMAS, Cuttack Bipin Rout as saying.

Besides, a national-level food festival with 20 stalls offering delicacies from Odisha as well as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab will be set up.

Adding to it, a nursery stall, and three dedicated rural-themed pavilions to explore the exquisite handicrafts and talent of artisans of the Cuttack district would also be put up at the mela.

While one of them will showcase the beautiful and elegant ‘khandua’, popularly known as ‘maniabandhi patta’ or silk product designed and developed by women artisans of Badamba block under the guidance of ORMAS and Tata Trust, the other will showcase bamboo crafts and the third the success of Deen Dayal Upadhya- Grameen Kaushal Yojana, a platform for youth empowerment.

The fair is being organised by Odisha Rural Development And Marketing Society (ORMAS), Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), and Mission Shakti in association with the district administration, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), Handicrafts and Cottage Industries department, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Uco Bank and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) department.