Bhubaneswar: The success spree of Grand Toshali Fair held at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar continues. Whil the Honorable Minister of Cooperation, Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts, Pradip Bal Samanta, graced the event to encourage participating artisans and craftsmen. During his address, the Minister emphasized that Odisha is a global treasure trove of art, handicrafts, and handlooms, describing the artisans as the “messengers of our heritage” and urging them to keep these traditional art forms alive.
Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Commissioner- cum -Secretary, congratulated the winners of the terracotta competition held at Kala Bhoomi, noting record-breaking achievements this year. The ceremony honored several talented participants, including Amiya Dhal, Manmath Kumar Panda Kaushal, Pradeep Nayak, Uday Mohanty, Sharat Pradhan, and Keshab Meher. Prestigious guests such as Padma Award winner Sharat Kumar Patra, Padma Shri Binod Maharana, and Gulachi Handloom founder Pinky Majhi were also present to inspire the community, while Surya Narayan Patnaik, Director of Handlooms and Textiles, offered the vote of thanks.
The Honorable Minister also utilized an electronic medium to officially inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several key infrastructure projects aimed at boosting the sector. These included the Training Department of the Odisha State Sericulture Research and Training Institute (OSSRTI) in Mancheswar (Budget: 7.16 Crores), the Bisoi Tussar Silk Park in Mayurbhanj (Budget: 5.06 Crores), and five ‘Srujanika’ Handicraft Clusters consisting of four common facility centers and one handicraft tourism center (Budget: 7.45 Crores). Additionally, foundation stones were laid for the Silk Technical Service Center building (Budget: 1.68 Crores) and a new Trainees’ Hostel in Mancheswar (Budget: 2.77 Crores).
The evening concluded with a vibrant cultural showcase that captivated the audience at Janata Maidan. Renowned singer Diptirekha Padhi performed a selection of popular songs, followed by high-energy Ghumura and Sambalpuri folk dance performances. These traditional displays provided a fitting end to a night dedicated to celebrating Odisha’s rich artistic legacy and the hard work of its skilled artisans.
