Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department is going to organize 16th Toshali National Craft Mela- 2022

Bhubaneswar27/3/22: Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department is going to organize 16th Toshali National Craft Mela- 2022 at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar from  March 28 to April 10.

In this connection, Padmini Dian, Minister HT&H on Tuesday briefed the Media about the arrangements and other aspects of the mela.

Dian said that Artisans, Weavers, Sculptors from all over the country will participate in this Crafts Mela & exhibit their traditional and contemporary handicraft and handloom products. As an important cultural nerve center of the country, Bhubaneswar hosts the Toshali National Crafts Mela at Janata Maidan every year. The crafts mela has already imprinted a unique place of its own in the country’s Annual Carnival Calendar and left an indelible impression in the minds of the peoples of our State.

This year the mela will accommodate 390 artisans and weavers out of which 150 weavers and artisans from different states of the country. Similarly, 150 artisans and 90 weavers of the state will be sponsored by Directorate of Handicrafts, Odisha and the Directorate of Textiles and Handlooms, Odisha respectively.

As a new initiative, this year, the Handicraft & Handloom Corporations of other States have been invited to showcase the rich handicrafts and handlooms of their respective State. A food court having 30 food stalls set by exclusive hotels and restaurants will offer delicious multi-cuisine foodstuffs to the visitors along with traditional Odia cuisine. Last year the mela witnessed a footfall of 14 lakh people and Rs 12.38 crore businesses were achieved. It is expected that around 15 lakh people will visit the mela this year and products worth Rs 15 crore will be sold approximately.