Cuttack, Nov. 17: A large turnout at the Bali yatra fair led to record sales and great business this year. Traders and self-help groups, which had set up kiosks at the national-level Pallishree Mela, were a happy lot as Bali yatra concluded today.
Innovative products made by members of self-help groups (SHG) were a huge hit. Most of the products displayed at Palishree Mela were sold out much before the seven-day annual fair came to an end today.
“Bali yatra has always been a great forum to interact with customers who look for durable ethnic handicrafts. This year too we have done good business and we are looking forward to participating in the fair next year,” said Vikash Sahu, member of Mahila Bikash Samiti, an SHG from Uttar Pradesh.
Pallishree Mela was organised by the Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society (Ormas) and the district administration in association with the Khadi Village Industry Commission. This time, around 307 kiosks had come up at the national-level fair. Over 30 artisans from different parts of Cuttack district had participated in it.
A jute kiosk set up to promote jute products was a crowd puller. Trendy bags and decorative wall hangings, among other products, sold like hot cakes. Wood products and textile items from different parts of the country were an added attraction.
“Bali yatra is a great place to buy ethnic and rural handicrafts, which are not easily available elsewhere. Various household articles, such as spices and daily use products, are easily available here,” said Prashant Swain, a visitor.
According to the organisers, the total business by the end of yesterday stood at around Rs 6 crore. There was a record business of around Rs 1.73 crore on November 12, which also saw a record turnout of over 12 lakh visitors. The total sales at the various kiosks at the fair stood at over Rs 83 lakh yesterday.
“There was a good response at the fair, as people thronged the kiosks in large numbers. The business generated will certainly be great encouragement for artisans to come up with good quality durable products,” said chief executive officer of Ormas, Bipin Rout.
All together 1,300 kiosks selling food and other products had come up at the Bali yatra ground. The yatra had got off to a splendid start on November 10. The Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police and the district administration had made strict security arrangements for the mega fair.
