Odisha handicrafts lure Delhites

Tathya.in, Nov 28, 2009
New Delhi:28/November/2009
The Odisha Handicraft Fair is attracting Delhites in a big way.

Prafulla Samal, Minister for Information & Public Relations, and Panchyati Raj, inaugurated Odisha Handicraft Fair here at Dilli Haat on 27 November.

The Fair, a display-cum-sale of exclusive Odisha Handicrafts, Handlooms & Art Textiles is organized by the Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation Limited (Utkalika) in association with Odisha Investment and Export Promotion Office (OIEPO).

Surendra Nath Tripathy, Secretary Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, M Satyanarayana, Resident Commissioner, Baishnab Charan Mohanty, Director Information & Public Relations, Sisir Kumar Ratho, Additional Resident Commissioner and other officials were present on the occasion.

The Fair will continue till 7 December, where 19 Handicraft artisans and craftsperson from various parts of Orissa are participating in this programme along with the ‘Utkalika’ branch of New Delhi.

The main attractions of the Fair are Tribal jewellery made out of Brass, Silver filigree items, Appliqué and patch work, Stone craft, Wood carving items, Pattachitra and Palm leaf etching, Dhokra casting, Golden grass craft and painted wooden items.

Odisha, a land of exquisite arts & crafts manifested in its magnificent temples, handlooms and handicrafts and over one lakh craftsmen are engaged production of about 50 exquisite handicrafts items worth Rs. 100 crore annually.

This Fair is organized to popularize the rich heritage of arts and crafts of Odisha.

Minister Mr.Samal showed keen interest in the handicrafts and art textile items displayed by the artisans and appreciated the creative products presented by them for display-cum-sale.

He interacted with the artisans and hoped that people residing in Delhi and visiting Delhi would get an opportunity to appreciate the to see, touch and feel the elegance of Odisha crafts at their door step.

Mr.Samal informed that the Government of Odisha is taking proactive steps to make the Odisha Handicrafts compete in the national and international markets and to establish proper market linkages.

Organisation of such fairs/ display-cum-sale from time to time at various places help in showcasing wide range of handicraft products developed in various clusters by artisans/ craftsperson.

He also lauded the contribution of the Utkalika, the premier marketing organization of the State for procuring various handicrafts products from artisans and craftsperson from remote corners of the state and marketing them in and outside the State through its exclusive twelve sales outlets.

Later in the India International Trade Fair 2009 cultural programme kicked off with the star attraction of the cultural extravaganza ‘Prince Dance Group’, the winner of “India’s Got Talent-TV” reality show presented a spectacular performance before the spectators.
The specially choreographed hit pieces “Sare Jahanse Achha”, “Krishna Avtar” and “Dashavatar” kept the spectators spellbound.

Other notable features of the evening were the rhythmic performances of Gotipua dance of Dashbhuja Gotipua Odissi Nritya Parisada, Raghurajpur.

The vibrant song and music of Shreee Gopal Laudi and Ugala Dance Research Centre relating to the childhood exploits of Lord Krishna touched the hearts of the spectators.

Keeping pace with beats of Dhap, the young men and women of Manoranjan Sangeeta Anusthan, Bhawanipatana gave a splendid performance in the evening. 

This specially organized culture show was witnessed by the Members of Parliament, dignitaries, senior officers of State and Union Government, Journalists and thousands of Delhites in general and Odias in particular.