Bhubaneswar, 12/12/2013: Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, Govt. of Odisha is going to organise 8thToshali National Crafts Mela-2013 at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar during 15th – 27th December. 2013. This mela is a national level event started in the year 2006 with the initiative of Department of Tourism Govt. of Odisha in association with Min istry of Tourism and Ministry of Textiles Govt. of India.
Craftsmanship of artisans & weavers of the State speaks volume of its ancient glory and modern endeavour. Bhubaneswar, the capital city, bears imprint of the rich religious history & traditional heritage of the state. As an important cultural nerve centre of the Country it hosts the Toshali National Crafts Mela at Janata Maidan every year. The Crafts Mela has already carved a unique niche of its own in the Country’s Annual Carnival Calendar. The vision of the the Mela is;
• To offer an open forum to artists, artisans and connoisseurs for interaction.
• To strengthen the Position of the weavers and artisans who are economically deprived by creating market for their products.
• To preserve and nature the traditional art forms, handicrafts and handlooms of India.
• To create awareness and educate the people on the skills and creative Intricacies involved in making the products.
With added expectations, this year the Mela will accommodate 300 handicrafts and handlooms stalls.
A food court having 30 food stalls set by exclusive hotels and restaurants of the twin city will offer delicious multi cuisine foodstuffs to the visitors. The Mela will host cultural programmes on daily basis inviting eminent artists and troupes from different parts of the country as well as the state in collaboration with Odisha Sangit Natak Academy, Culture Department and EZCC, Kolkata.
For the first time the mela will provide an unique opportunity to the public to enjoy the song and dance of Odia participants of national level competion telecasted through channels like Sony, Starplus, Zee etc.
To add to the ambience, a theme pavilion “Symphony in Tassar” depicting the tasar tradition of the state is erected centrally which will tell the minute details of the tassar plantation to finished products. For the first time, 6 Govt. Educational Institutions related to Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts sector namely NIFT, Bhubaneswar, Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Baragada, Indian Institute of Textiles, Choudwar, ATDC, Bhubaneswar, CET, Bhubaneswar and SIDAC will open their stalls for awareness and to address queries among the student community of the State about the scope of Fashion/Textile education & Carrier opportunity offered in the said sectors.
This will be also a unique opportunity for the people of the state to have direct interaction with the artisans and weavers from all over the country and purchase goods of their choice without any middle man between them, while relishing the mouth-watering delicacies in the food court and enjoying the performances of eminent artists of the country.
All the concerned departments and organisations of the state are providing necessary support to make the mela a grand success. It is expected that around 8 lakhs people will visit the mela this year and approximately merchandise worth Rs.5.00 crores will be sold.
This year the mela is organised by Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department in association with Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Department of Tourism, Govt. of India and Department of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha.
State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC), Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar an autonomous institution under Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Govt. or Odisha is implementing this mega National level Crafts Mela.