Bhubaneswar: The 18th Toshali National Crafts Mela in Bhubaneswar that concluded on Tuesday generated business worth more than Rs 30 crore.
The annual Toshali Mela, organised by the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts department of Odisha in association with the Ministry of Textiles, was opened on December 15. The crafts mela witnessed more than 20 lakh footfall.
Saswat Mishra, principal secretary, Micro, Small and Medium enterprise department, Arabind Padhee, principal secretary, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts department and Sanjay Kumar Panda, former chief secretary of Tripura attended the concluding function of the Mela.
Around 600 stalls were opened in the crafts fest this year. More than 200 artisans and over 140 weavers from Odisha participated as exhibitors. Similarly, 250 sculptors and 57 weavers from outside Odisha put up their hand-made products on display.
The main attraction of the Mela was the theme pavilion “Tribal Crafts & Weaves of the State & GI Products” featuring handicraft and handloom products of Odisha with GI tag.
The four stalls at the theme pavilion showcased Pattachitra, applique and stone carving. Sambalpuri Bandha sarees, Habaspuri sarees, Khurda district’s Dhalapathara curtains, Gopalpur’s Tassar fabrics, Odisha Ikat sarees, Khandua Patta, Bomkai sarees and various handloom products of Kotpad were on display at the pavilion.
The cruelty-free ‘Karuna Silk’ produced with the non-violent method was a unique attraction at the theme pavilion. The entire process of making this silk without killing the Eri silkworms was demonstrated live.
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