Bhubaneswar, March 18: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the 19th Tosali National Handicrafts Mela -2025 at the Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, informed Odisha’s Minister for Cooperation, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, Pradeep Bal Samanta.

Minister Bal Samanta today said, Tosali Mela will showcase the rich handicrafts and handloom culture from across the country. The Mela will preserve Indian traditional arts, handicrafts and handlooms and provide a market for the sale of goods made by weavers and handicraft artisans, he added.

Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, Govt. of Odisha is going to organize 19th Toshali National Craft Mela at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar from from 19th to 31st March 2025. Artisans, weavers, from all over the country will participate in this Crafts Mela & exhibit their traditional and contemporary handicraft and handloom products.

This year the “Theme Pavilion” of the Mela will showcase the “Shilpa Srujani” which will be constructed over an area of 2500 Sq.ft. More than 700 Artisans and weavers from across the country will participate in the mela. There will be more than 650 stalls. Out of which 150 Handicrafts artisans from different parts of the Country will be sponsored by DC (Handicrafts) under National Handcrafts Fair Scheme.

Similarly, 50 weavers from different parts of the Country will be sponsored by DC (Handlooms). Going on the similar vein, 250 Artisans and 110 Weavers of the State will be sponsored by Directorate of Handicrafts, Odisha and Directorate of Textiles and Handlooms, Odisha respectively.

This apart, Educational Institutes and Govt organisations related to Handicrafts and Handlooms sector of  the State / India will also participate in the event for awareness of the visitors. Apex Handicrafts Corporations of other States will also participate in the mela to showcase the rich handicrafts and handlooms of that State.

This year, a food court having 35 food stalls will offer delicious multi-cuisine foodstuffs to the visitors along with traditional Odia cuisine through exclusive hotels and restaurants.

The mela will remain open every day from 03:00 PM to 10:00 PM. All related logistics arrangement i.e. Fire brigade, Security, Civil Defence, First Aid Service, Ambulance, drinking water, toilets, ATM Counters will be available in the mela Premises. Free accommodation along with transportation facility will be provided to the lady exhibitors.

The mela will host cultural programmes each evening between 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, inviting eminent artists and troupes from different parts of the country as well as the State. The Cultural Programme will be arranged in association with Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademy, Deptt. of Culture., Govt of Odisha. A fashion show will be organized showcasing rich handloom / handicraft products of our State.