Indigenous and GI-Tagged Odisha Products Gain National Identity: Minister
Food Zone and Selfie Point emerge as major attractions on inaugural evening
Bhubaneswar : The annual Mega Fair ‘Sisir Saras–2026’, organised by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Government of Odisha, was inaugurated today at the IDCO Exhibition Ground, Unit-III, Bhubaneswar. The fair was formally inaugurated by Shri Gokulananda Mallick, Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Development, Government of Odisha, as the Chief Guest. The event witnessed participation from artisans, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and producers from across Odisha and various other states, who are showcasing and selling a wide range of handicrafts, handlooms and indigenous products.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Shri Gokulananda Mallick said that ‘Sisir Saras’ is not merely a fair, but a vibrant celebration of Odisha’s rural self-reliance, indigenous identity and cultural heritage. He noted that the fair strongly reflects the spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’ and is playing a crucial role in giving national recognition to GI-tagged and indigenous products such as Sambalpuri and Subarnapur handlooms, Koraput’s Kalajeera rice, and Sundargarh’s millet products.
Hon’ble MLA Shri Anant Narayan Jena and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das were also present and highlighted the significance of the fair in strengthening the rural economy. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Chief Executive Officer, ORMAS, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Shri Sanjiv Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer, ORMAS.
A total of 340 sales stalls have been set up at this year’s fair, including 35 food stalls. Artisans and producers from 30 districts of Odisha and 20 other states across India are participating, giving the fair the appearance of a ‘Mini India Bazaar’. The vibrant Food Zone has become a major crowd-puller, attracting large numbers of visitors every evening. This year, the fair is expected to generate business worth approximately Rs 30 crore.A series of cultural programmes are being organised daily during the fair. A special highlight will be the ‘Human Sagar Night’, organised in memory of the late singer Human Sagar, featuring performances by Bollywood singer Divya Kumar and popular Ollywood artists. The creatively designed Selfie Point has also emerged as a major attraction among visitors.Special emphasis has been laid on maintaining a clean, well-managed and plastic-free fair. Adequate arrangements for drinking water, lighting, sanitation and security have been made for the convenience of visitors. The ‘Sisir Saras–2026’ fair will continue till 18 January 2026 and will remain open to the public daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
