For Archana Patnaik, a 20-year-old undergraduate student, a visit to the ongoing Adivasi Mela was an eye-opener.

Stepping into a Santhal hut and getting a glimpse of the tribal lifestyle brought the Mumbai resident close to her roots. Her sister, too, could not stop admiring the tribal girls adorned with colourful attires and accessories.

The annual tribal fair, has brought alive the vibrant culture of various tribal communities of the state at the Adivasi Exhibition Ground in the city.

Apart from Santhals, the houses of Lanjia Saura, Juangs, Kandha and Desia tribes were displayed at the theme pavilion show.

A number of youngsters thronged the fair to get a glimpse of the 62 tribal people, including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, which have come over to the fair to create awareness about tribal people and their way of living.

The SC and ST development department has organised the annual fair, in which participants brought products collected from the forests of their respective areas.

Edible items such as - pulses, stems, roots and fruits - that can either be used as spices or for medicinal purpose were also available. Household articles such as mortar and pestle, broomsticks and utensils were also a hit among the visitors. "The items are of good quality and not available in the urban markets, so I make it a point to visit this fair every year," said Anuradha Pradhan, a 38-year-old home-maker.