New Delhi, Nov. 27: The Odisha pavilion at the India International Trade Fair, 2011, here, is hard-selling the state as the newest and hottest investment destination in the country. However, the record footfall at the kiosk, most visitors insisted, was only to have a glimpse of its glorious textiles.

Cryptic messages from “Team Odisha” outside the imposing pavilion welcome visitors to “come”, “invest” and “grow” in the state. The galleries inside showcases Nalco, a navratna public sector unit and Tata Steel’s controversial Kalinganagar project as major success stories.

Superb coloured photographs of the creations of Nalco brand ambassador sand artiste Sudershan Patnaik, occupies a pride of place. Power sector reforms also take up a whole nearby gallery.

The idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in one glass-shielded corner are a huge attraction for the masses.

A dedicated section to organic farming and agriculture also elicits a muted response. Banners urge visitors to check out www.koraput.organics.com for further info.

However, the tourism section always seems to be permanently in a state of a melee — too many people asking for brochures and handouts about places of tourist importance, including the Buddhist circuit that the state tourism machinery is plugging for.

Tall life-size photos beckon you to visit Konark for the international sand festival at Chandrabhaga, Konark, scheduled for December 1 to 5.

The Olive Ridley turtles come to Rushikulya in Ganjam district to nest every year. The Shelduck flies in every year in winter to Nalbana, Chilka lake.

A discerning, elite section haggle in select nooks and corners for better deals, while the less privileged wrap themselves unashamedly with the cheapest cottons — priced at as low as Rs 200 to Rs 300 a sari.

An employee of Boyanika, in Delhi’s famed Connaught Place, was all smiles at his counter. “We have recorded three lakh sales,” he said beaming.

“Profits would have been more but the private players are also here. They are undercutting us by offering a discount of over 30 per cent and more,” he said, struggling to talk as he plied the interested with saris of all varieties.