The Samikhsya Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: The 15th edition of the annual Toshali National Crafts Mela will be underway at the sprawling Janata Maidan here commencing on Thursday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to inaugurate the fair being hosted by The Department of Handlooms & Handicrafts of the State Government with support from the Central Government from January 21 to February 4.
Nearly 250 stalls will be mounted in the fair that will have participation of 80 noted weavers and artisans from various states being sponsored by the development Commissioner of Handlooms and Handicrafts of the Union Government.
Similarly, 110 artisans and 60 weavers of the state will be included in the fair sponsored by the State Government.
The fair will be organised maintaining all the Covid protocols of the Centre and the State Government, the officials stated.
Social distancing will be strictly followed along with use masks, they added.
In view of the Covid situation, cultural programmes will not be conducted this year during the fair, they clarified.
The fair will remain open daily from 2 pm to 9 pm.
