An artist installs masks at the arrival lounge of Biju Patnaik airport. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, June 7: The state’s handloom and handicraft products will be displayed at Biju Patnaik airport.

The lounges at the new domestic terminal will have kiosks of Utkalika, Boyanika and the Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation.

The Utkalika kiosk will be opened on the first floor of the departure lounge, while the Boyanika and the co-operative counters will be on the ground floor. Utkalika is the flagship store of Odisha State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited and Boyanika of Odisha State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society Limited. The counters will be ready before the car festival.

During its inauguration on March 5, the new domestic terminal displayed some traditional art forms of Odisha with large sized patta chitra paintings, masks and stone sculptures. But with three new kiosks to come up, the display of the state’s craft tradition will be complete at the airport.

Handloom, textiles and handicraft development secretary Aparajita Sarangi said: “We will showcase the objects traditionally manufactured by our weavers and artisans. The kiosks’ positioning are planned in such a way that the travellers can chose their choicest products just before boarding aircrafts.”

In the Boyanika kiosk all the recent designs of the Odisha textiles will be on display. “We will have a special catalogue at the airport counter. If one finds a design from the catalogue and there is no stock available, the customer relation executive will take down the number of the customer and inform him or her when the items are available,” said Aparajita.

“We have also requested the airport authorities to use the Boyanika products as upholstery in the lounges. It will not only enhance the beauty of the terminal, but also can showcase the unique fabrics of Odisha in a decent way,” she said.

Airport director Sharad Kumar said: “For the first time, we have received such an interesting proposal from the Odisha government to have kiosks promoting the beautiful handlooms and handicrafts. As the airport is also going to start an international operation shortly, the venture will take the local products to a new height.”

Apart from the Utkalika and Boyanika products, the co-operative items, including tribal handicrafts, handloom and art objects of various ethnic regions of the state, will be available at the airport counter.

General manager of the co-operative Subrat Kumar Kar said: “The tribal art forms have made a mark following their popularisation through wall paintings by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation in the past. Now, our artists are in demand and even go to foreign countries to showcase their unique designs. The airport terminal will be the proper place to make them more popular.”