Bhubaneswar, Mar 24: The Odisha Khadi Fair-2026 was officially inaugurated today at the Khadi and Village Industries Board office near Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar-Ekamra MLA, Babu Singh, attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. In his address, he highlighted that "Khadi is a source of economic prosperity and a symbol of love for indigenous products." Singh further emphasized the significant role that khadi and village industries play in poverty alleviation.

Rashmita Panda, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, delivered the opening remarks. She shared that the primary objective of the fair is to bring together khadi products at a single venue while fostering a market-oriented approach aimed at the economic upliftment of weavers and artisans involved in village industries.

The fair, organized by the MSME Department of the state government, will run until March 29, with visitors welcomed from 3 pm to 10 pm each day. Special arrangements have been made to engage the younger generation, including live demonstrations of khadi production processes.

This year's fair features a wide range of khadi products such as garments, sarees, shawls, jackets, and various village industry goods. A total of 75 stalls have been set up, with participants from across Odisha and other states like Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh. The fair also offers a variety of traditional foods and cultural programs every evening to entertain visitors.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Arundhati Devi, member of the Khadi and Village Industries Board; Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Secretary of the Board; Subhash Chhetri, State Director of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission; Joint Secretary Prafulla Kujur; and Financial Advisor Chandrahasya Nayak, among others.