Visitors at a handloom stall and (below) kurtis on display at another kiosk on Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24: A fair of authentic handlooms from all across the country, the annual National Handloom Expo, organised by the Odisha State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society is under way on IDCO Exhibition Ground in the city.

The event was inaugurated on Wednesday evening.

Weavers from various states have showcased their traditional handlooms that display their artistic skills and expertise in creating exquisite fabrics out of organic elements. Te patola of Gujarat, jamdani and tangail of Bengal, phulkari of Punjab, Kanjivaram of Tamil Nadu, brocades of Benares, carpets of Bhadohi and also the fine silk, tussar and cotton Bomkai, Ikat and Bandha fabric of Odihsa are available at the event.

The handloom fabrics are found in the traditional saree and salwar forms as well as in exclusive dupattas and stoles. But they have also been reinvented into skirts, tops, kurtis and harem pants.

Of the 100 stalls set up at the fair, the Odisha artisans have been allotted 25, and the weavers from 15 other states have displayed their products in the remaining stalls.

“This fair always attracts buyers and we look forward to the expo every year,” said Ahmed, an artisan from Jammu and Kashmir offering pashmina shawls and embroidered suit pieces.

The state government’s handloom agencies such as Boyanika, Sambalpuri Bastralaya, SERIFED have also showcased exclusive collections at the fair.

“The expo has entered its 13th edition this year. It aims to provide a big platform for exclusive display of handloom products and facilitate consumers to purchase genuine products from all over the country under one umbrella,” said a Boyanika official.

A major attraction at the fair is a theme pavilion on the Lord Jagannath temple that is displayed with various fabrics of tussar of Odisha and other states. The pavilion also reminds of the Nabakalebar coming next year.

A food pavilion has been put up, and cultural programmes, including children’s ramp slated for January 26, are also being held. “There is a lot of variety for us to choose from. From ready-made suits and beautiful sarees to reels of various fabrics, we find many options here at affordable prices,” said Madhumita Rout, a visitor.

An official said they were expecting sales of over Rs 7 crore this year going with the rise in figures in the last three years from Rs 361.81 lakh in 2011, Rs 480.21 lakh in 2012 to Rs 580.69 lakh in 2013.