The Toshali National Craft Mela is all set to become a permanent fixture in the cultural calendar of the Capital city of Bhubaneswar from this year.

Organized on the pattern of the famous Surajkund Mela, the 13-day expo on traditional are, crafts and food cuisine of the country, which goes underway at Janata Maidan here from Monday, would also assume an international colour with participation of artisans from abroad.



As a beginning, artisans from countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Afghanistan are going to take part in the exhibition while some from Nepal and Bhutan are also expected to join, State Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said here on Sunday. With a regular venue and a fixed date, the crafts fair would not only provide the local artisans with the much-needed national and global exposure but also evolve into a major tourist attraction as has been the case with Surajkund, Mishra said.



Organized by Orissa Tourism in association with Handlooms and Handicrafts Ministry, Eastern Zone Cultural Committee and song and Drama Division of the Government the fair would have about 200 stalls. More than 400 artisans from about 22 states in the country are taking part, Tourism Director Rabi Narayan Nanda said.

The objective of the fair, which goes into its third edition this year, is to enable a direct interface between craftsmen and buyers, act as a catalyst in rejuvenating the languishing art and crafts, provide visitors with the experience of technique and skills of traditional craft and promoting tourism.

Besides, the fair would involve a gala food festival dishing out cuisines from regions across the country as well as abroad. Around 20 stalls are set aside for the purpose.



Cultural events would also form a major part of the fair with artistes of national and international repute like Ghazal maestros Pankaj Udhas, Bhupinder and Mitali, Odissi danseuse Meera Das, Kathak dancer Susmita Chatterjee, Oriya singers Tansen Singh, Swaroop Nayak, etc, performing during the evenings.