Bhubaneswar, Feb 6: The 20th edition of the Toshali Swadeshi Mela is set to begin at Janata Maidan on February 14 and will run until February 26. To promote the event, two promotional chariots were flagged off on Thursday from the local Ekamra Hata by Pradip Bal Samant, Minister of Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts.

The chariots will tour major cities, including Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur, and Berhampur, spreading awareness about the mela and encouraging public participation. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Samant said, “Our weavers and artisans are the torchbearers of Odisha’s proud handloom and handicraft traditions. This mela aims to empower them economically and showcase their skills to a wider audience.”

Artisans and weavers from across the state will participate in the mela, which will feature three theme pavilions dedicated to handlooms, handicrafts, and silk. The pavilions will host live demonstrations, allowing visitors to experience the making of traditional crafts firsthand.

Facilities have been arranged for senior citizens and differently-abled visitors, including a help desk, wheelchair-accessible toilets, and a mother-and-infant care room. Every evening, the mela will host cultural programs and a fashion show highlighting Odisha’s rich textile and handicraft heritage.

Notable dignitaries attending the mela include Padma Shri awardees Prabhakar Maharana and Iliana Sitarist, Secretary of Administration Guha Punam Tapas Kumar, Director of Handlooms and Textiles Prem Chandra Choudhury, Director of Handicrafts Nivedita Prusti, and other senior officials from the handlooms and handicrafts departments.

Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the cultural programs, taste local cuisine, and purchase Swadeshi products, thereby supporting the state’s artisan community financially.