Products on display at Sisir Saras in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7: Artefacts and edible items made in rural areas across the country can be found at the Sisir Saras that is under way on the Exhibition Ground here.

The fair is an annual national-level handicraft and handloom expo organised by Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), Odisha Livelihoods Mission, Panchayati Raj department and sponsored by ministry of rural development, government of India.

The 11-day fair offers a wide range of home décor as well as food items from all over the country. The 274 kiosks set up in thatched roof style give a rural feel. Products from 19 states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bengal and Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are being sold.

Artisans have brought artificial flowers from Bengal while mekhla chadar — the traditional shawls — from North East from Assam can also be found.

Handloom products from Andhra Pradesh such as south cotton saris and salwar kameez sets, kantha patterned saris and stoles from Bengal, sequined dress material from Gujarat are some of the impressive handloom items apart from the Sambalpuri silk saris of Odisha and pashmina silk stoles and suits of Kashmir.

Decorative items such as hanging lamps and bed lamps have caught the attention of the visitors. Paper lamps from Pondicherry are here in colourful shades and shapes. The designs are extremely contemporary and can be placed in the bedroom as well as living room. Leather lampshades with hand painting are also another variety available at Sisir Saras that again is a unique item to purchase.

“The best part about these lampshades available at the fair is that they are not just gorgeous but are also affordable,” said Saswati Baliarsingh, a homemaker. The lampshades are priced between Rs 200 and Rs 800. Similarly, wall hangings made of mirrors and beads, bags of cane, wood and metal crafts are also on display at the exhibition.

Edible items such as badi, papad and flour of cereals available in rural areas as well as different kinds of pickles are also being sold at the fair. Women can go for accessories such as earrings, bangles and neck pieces.