Bhubaneswar, The Toshali National Handicrafts Fair, organized by the Department of Handlooms, Weaving and Handicrafts of the Government of Bhubaneswar in Bhubaneswar, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar this year at 6 pm today. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the largest fair in eastern India was being held under exceptional circumstances. He encouraged ordinary people as well to take part in solving this great task: "One of the things you and other people can do is keep up the pressure ... there are going to be some difficult decisions for government".
"Odisha is a land of art and culture and Oriya artisans can be as amazing as Konark and our artisans are incomparable," he said. He also congratulated the state handicraftsmen. The Minister of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, Mrs. Paddhini Dian, who was present at the inaugural meeting, encouraged the handicraftsmen and weavers who participated in the fair and appealed to all to abide by the Kovid rules and make the fair a success. Minister for Social Security and Differential Empowerment, Science and Technology Shri Ashok Chandra Panda and Bhubaneswar MLA Shri Anant Narayan Jena joined as guests and spoke about the importance of the Toshali fair and encouraged weavers and artisans.
Mr. Shubha Sharma, Secretary, Department of Administration, Mr. Jyoti Prakash Das, Director, Textiles and Handicrafts, Director, Handicrafts and other officials were present. Mr. Kailash Chandra Sahu, Additional Secretary, Department of Administration and Member Secretary, Sidakar, who was present at the meeting, introduced the guests and gave a welcome address. At the meeting, the three were awarded the State Handicrafts Award - 2018. They are Mr. Divyajyoti Behera (stone carving), Mr. Dillip Kumar Swain (palm leaf carving), Mrs. Priyanka Patra (clay industry). Similarly, 4 people were awarded the Art Award. They are Sushant Kumar Das (stone carving), Shri Nityananda Sa (stone carving), Ms. Ronibala Mohapatra (Pattachitra Shilpa), Nirmal Chandra Das (palm leaf carving), Suresh Chandra Mohapatra (Chandua handicrafts), Miss Kuni Patra (straw industry).
The fair will run from January 21 to February 8. A total of 250 handloom and handicraft stalls have been set up at the 15-day fair this year. It is attended by about 140 artisans and weavers from our state and about 40 from outside the state. No cultural events were held at the fair to keep an eye on the situation and avoid crowds of visitors. Hand sanitizers have been installed in various places as well as thermal scooting as per the covid rules of all the spectators entering the fair.
Spectators are urged to wear masks while maintaining social distance. A high-level committee has been set up at the fair to enforce the government's coveted rules. As every year, the fair creates a conducive environment for the disabled. The fair will be open daily from 2pm to 6pm. The main purpose of the fair is to create market opportunities for products made by state and national handicraftsmen and weavers.
The fair is being organized in collaboration with the Department of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts of the State Government and the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), the Ministry of Handlooms of the Government of India. The fair is organized and sponsored by the State Institute of Arts and Crafts Development (Sidak), which works under the Department of Handloom, Weaving and Handicrafts.
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