Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated 15th Toshali National Crafts Mela at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Inaugurating the crafts mela, Patnaik said this is unique in eastern India and the biggest. He said this mela speaks volumes about the arts and crafts of Odisha and its artisans.
State Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts (HT&T) Minister Padmini Dian congratulated all the artisans who participated in the mela and thanked that they have adhered to COVID-19 guidelines.
Odisha Science and Technology Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Bhubaneswar (Central) MLA Ananta Narayan Jena also encouraged the participants.
The artisans who were awarded are Dibyajyoti Behera, Dillip Kumar Swain, Priyanka Patra, Sushant Das, Nityananda Sa, Ronibala Mohapatra, Nirmal Chandra Das, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and Kuni Patra.
Toshali National Crafts Mela 2021 will continue till February 4. Nearly 170 artisans from Odisa and 80 from other state are participating in the mela.
