A five-day National Tribal Crafts Mela 2013 by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal began in the premises of SCSTRTI, Bhubaneswar. The Mela was inaugurated by I Srinivas, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Odisha Government.
More than 60 artists from the States of Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Odisha are participating in this Crafts Mela and demonstrating their skills on their traditional crafts.
On this occasion Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Scheduled Tribe Development Department, Prof AB Ota, IAS, Director-cum-Additional Secretary, SCSTRTI, and Ramesh Chandra Sai, Director, Scheduled Castes were also present.
A photo exhibition Abhivyakti — Diversity of the languages of Cultural Expression was also mounted on this occasion and was inaugurated by I Srinivas, Development Commissioner. The exhibition consisted of around 50 photographs and informative panels depicting different means and mediums used by various communities for expression of culture. A large number of visitors visited the exhibition.
Meanwhile, the National Craft Fair and Demonstration titled as ‘Kriti -2013’ will be inaugurated on Thursday, 20 December, 2013 at 4pm. The fair will be inaugurated by tribal artist at Mandapam open air exhibition situated at Manav Sangrahalaya. Tribal craftsmen from various tribes of India are participating in the national craft fair.
More than 250 craftsmen from 19 States are participating in the ten days long craft fair. The main attraction of this fair is grand exhibition of amazing workmanship on clothing, ornaments, Terracotta, metal, wood, Bamboo and paper.