New Delhi, March 15: The third day of Odisha Parba 2026, the three-day cultural festival celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of Odisha, featured engaging discussions on handicrafts and the future of traditional artisans. The event was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and saw participation from policymakers, experts and members of the Odia community.

As part of the day’s programme, two panel discussions were organised on different themes. First Session Titled Aaithihya Odisha-Promoting Intangible Heritage was organised which highlighted the Handicrafts of Odisha.And the Second Session Titled A Seminar on Hasta Shilpa Odisha-Handicrafts as Economic Drivers was organised.The discussion focused on “Handicrafts of Odisha” and was led by noted writer and economist Charu Datta Panigrahi.

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Speaking during the session, Panigrahi highlighted the importance of recognising the state’s artistic heritage alongside its natural resources. He said that while Odisha is widely known for its mineral wealth, equal importance should be given to its rich artistic and handicraft traditions. According to him, the state possesses exceptionally high-quality handicrafts, and greater efforts should be made to promote and popularise them at national and international levels.

The discussion also featured insights from Prabhas Singh, former Member of Parliament from Bargarh. Singh pointed out that if a yarn mill had been established in Bargarh, local weavers would not have needed to purchase yarn from outside the region. He stressed the need for serious policy attention to support the weaving community.

Singh further emphasised that Odisha’s traditional craftsmanship must connect with the global market. To achieve this, he said artisans and industry stakeholders should adopt modern technologies and innovative practices to enhance production and expand market access.