The entrance to the 11th Toshali National Crafts Fair, which began at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

This year, the theme of the fair is Pipili appliqué work. A kiosk has been set up at the centre of the fair ground for artisans to demonstrate the intricacies of the art form to visitors. To tackle demonetisation hassles, a number of ATM counters have been installed at the fair to ensure easy cashless transaction for visitors.

Around 350 artisans and weavers from 25 states apart from Odisha are taking part in the fair. Around 100 kiosks are also selling fashion jewellery, shoes and tribal ornaments. A major highlight of the fair is the variety of home décor items that are available. A food section is also there for visitors to take a break and munch on mouthful delicacies. Several cultural programmes have also been lined up for the evenings. The annual fair is hosted by the state handloom and handicrafts department. Last year, the fair witnessed a footfall of around 15 lakh and did business of around Rs 15 crore. The fair concludes on December 27.

Text by Anwesha Ambaly

Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee