Speaking to media at a press conference held at I & PR Conference Hall this afternoon, Handloom, Textile & Handicrafts Minister Smt. Snehangini Chhuria said that the Artisans, Weavers, Painters and Sculptors from all over the country will participate in this Crafts Mela & exhibit their traditional and contemporary handicraft and handloom products.
With added expectation, this year the mela will accommodate 350 handicraft and handloom stalls. 100 artisans and 50 weavers from different states of the country will be sponsored by DC (Handicrafts) & DC (Handlooms), GOI respectively. Similarly 140 artisans and 60 weavers of the state will be sponsored by DH & CI, Odisha and Directorate of Textiles and Handlooms, Odisha respectively.
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. The mela will host cultural programmes each evening between 6 P.M. to 9.30 P.M., inviting eminent artists and troupes from different parts of the country as well as the state in collaboration with Odisha Sangita Natak Akademi, Culture Deptt. Public will get opportunity to enjoy the evergreen music performance of the versatile Bollywood Singer Kavita Krishnamurthy on the evening of 25 th December. Apart from that, Bollywood Singer Amit Sana will also perform on 18th December.
Keeping in view of the demonetization of Rs 1000/- & Rs 500/- notes, this year steps are being taken to open atleast 4 to 5 ATM counter inside the mela ground. Steps are also being taken for e-money transfer facility inside the ground for helping exhibitors and visitors for smooth business transaction.
The vision of the Mela:
- 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 nurture the traditional art forms, handicrafts and handlooms of India and
- To create awareness and educate the people on the skills and creative intricacies involved in making the products.
The mela is scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at 6.00 pm on 15 th December at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar in the presence of Minister Snehangini Chhuria, Minister Tourism & Culture Ashok Ch.Panda, M.P.Dr.Prasanna Patsani, MLA Sri Bijay Kumar Mohanty, MLA Sri Priyadarshi Mishra & Mayor Sri Anant Narayan Jena.