The six-day Natural Fibre and Languishing Craft expo is aimed at reviving traditional handicrafts which have been forgotten by art lovers
BHUBANESWAR: A six-day state-level Natural Fibre and Languishing Craft Exhibition was inaugurated by Development Commissioner Asit Kumar Tripathy at Adivasi Exhibition Ground here Wednesday.
Natural fibre crafts are handicrafts made of various natural fibres such as Jute, Coir, Sabai Grass, Golden Grass, Sisal Fibre, Straw, Cane, Bamboo, Palm Leaf and Root among others. These are manufactured by artisans of the state.
Jatin Kumar Sahoo, President, Utkalika said, “The exhibition is aimed at reviving languishing handicrafts. Some of those have been on the wane for many years now like Bela Guntha’s flexible fish item, straw crafts and many more items. There are 70 stalls including 20 exclusive ones. These have been erected for reigniting the interest of people in the art form.”
“Around 100 artisans, SHG’s, NGO’s, societies are participating from various districts like Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Balasore, Nabarangapur, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Puri and Kandhamal,” he added.
Similarly, handicrafts like Art Leather craft, Betel Nut craft, Flexible Brass fish, Gopa craft, Horn craft, Jaikhadi craft, Keora Leaf craft, Lacquer ware craft, Paddy craft, Solapith craft, Painted wooden toys, Ganjappa cards, Dongaria shawls and Saura painting among others are all identified as Languishing Crafts.
Secretary, State Textiles and Handloom department, Shubha Sharma, Director, cottage industry, BK Dash, Boynika’s Managing Director Bikash Chandra Mahapatraa and Utkalika’s President Satyaranjan Sahoo graced the occasion. The expo is open from 2 PM in the afternoon to 9.30 PM in the evening. Adruta group performed Odissi and Sambalpuri on the inaugural day to allure visitors as well as officials.
A visitor Anuradha Mohanty said, “Besides the languishing handicrafts, I was enamoured by the enchanting Odissi performance of Adruta group. The handicrafts on display at the expo are mesmerising as well.”
Interacting with Orissa Post, Prasanta Maharana of Raghurajpur who makes Ganjafa cards said, “I am here to represent the traditional art of my family. Ganjafa cards are especially famous in Puri where people play these cards. I have made Lord Vishnu’s Dasavatar on these cards. It takes around eight days to complete a pack of cards.”
Vishwakarma Maharana from Firagia of Phulbani District said, “I make artefacts from the roots of Batitilei trees. It takes three months to make diverse artefacts from this material. The craft is huge and costs around Rs 15,000 per piece.
This expo witnessed a huge footfall of common visitors, art collectors and connoisseurs. It may be noted that this is the first exhibition of languishing products in Odisha.
