Bhubaneswar, January 6: The annual Sisir Saras Mela, organised by ORMAS under the PanchayatiRaj and Drinking Water Department will be held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar from January 10 to January 18.
The annual fair aims to create direct marketing platforms for rural producers, artisans, and women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Artisans and producers from Odisha and nearly 20 states across the country will participate, presenting a vibrant display of handicrafts, handloom products, and rural enterprises. This year the fair will be organised in collaboration with Mission Shakti.
The venue will be transformed into a "Mini India Market" with 340 sales stalls and 35 food stalls. The fair will prominently showcase Odisha’s rich handicraft and handloom heritage, including handloom textiles from Bargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, and Subarnapur; lac products from Balasore; paper mache from Keonjhar; woodcraft from Kandhamal and Kalahandi; golden grass crafts from Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur; terracotta from Balangir; lemongrass and black rice from Koraput; and millet-based products from Sundargarh.
Handicrafts and handloom products from other states will also be on display, such as Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh, Kosa silk from Chhattisgarh, Tussar silk from Jharkhand, Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh, woollen garments from Jammu & Kashmir, Phulkari from Punjab, block prints from Madhya Pradesh, and artificial jewellery from Karnataka.
Six workshops and training programs will be organized during the fair, involving around 850 members of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and SHGs. These sessions will focus on value addition, enterprise development, branding, enhancing product shelf life, and improving market competitiveness of the locally made products.
Cultural programs will be a major highlight of Sisir Saras-2026. There will be performances by many renowned artists and a special musical night in memory of popular Odia singer Humane Sagar. Kite and drone shows, as well as fashion shows, will add to the fair's festive atmosphere.
