A kiosk displays dokra items at Toshali National Crafts Fair

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 16: Visitors to the Toshali National Crafts Mela, which got under way at the Janata Maidan here on Monday, are enthusiastically trying their hands at dokra casting under the guidance of traditional craftsmen from Dhenkanal.

At a huge kiosk set up right in the middle of the fair, around 10 artisans are demonstrating the intricacies of this ancient metal casting technique to inquisitive visitors.

From the initial process of clay preparation to the final procedure of buffing and polishing, the artisans, who have come from Nabajibanpur village, are working flawlessly to make charming motifs of birds, animals, lamp caskets, bowls and trays.

These artisans have been involved in dokra casting since generations and all the 120 families of Nabajibanpur village are striving hard to keep the tradition alive.

“This art form is used by very few in the country and we fear it might disappear, so we are imparting the training to our children so that the legacy continues,” said Basanta Behera, one of the artisans.

With focus on dokra casting, the theme pavilion titled ‘Magic in Metals’ aims at promoting dokra art among the rural populace.

Last year, a similar pavilion was set up that dealt with the making of tussar silk.

“I never knew that clay formed a part of the casting process. The entire procedure is very interesting and I came to know about a lot of unknown facts,” said 33-year-old businessman, Arindam Mohanty.

Around 300 handicraft and handloom stalls have been set up at the fair by artisans and weavers from across the country. A number of kiosks are also selling fashion jewellery, shoes and tribal ornaments. More than 300 artisans from all over India have arrived here for the Toshali Mela.

A major highlight of the fair is the variety of home décor items that are available in stylish designs. From artistically painted vases to metal showpieces and from door and wall hangings to bamboo furniture, visitors are spoilt for choice.

In an attempt to promote career opportunities in fashion designing and the textile sector, six educational institutions are taking part in the fair. NIFT, Bhubaneswar, Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Bargarh, Indian Institute of Textiles, Choudwar, Apparel Training and Design Centre and College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar and State Institute for Development of Arts and Crafts (SIDAC) have set up kiosks at the fair.

Visitors can also take pleasure in an array of mouth-watering cuisines that are being served at the food court set up at one corner of the fair. Many cultural programmes are been lined up for the evenings.

Performance by India’s Raw Star Rituraj Mohanty on December 21 is expected to be a crowd puller.