The Odisha Silpi Mahasangha, an association of craftsmen and weavers in the State, celebrated its second annual festival at the Town Hall premises here on Tuesday.
Besides, a discussion held on the occasion highlighted the status and growth of weavers and craftsmen in the State. Noted Bangalore-based designer and artist Gyanesh Mishra, journalists Satya Prakash Nayak and Pabitra Mohan Samantaray and designer Saear Mohanty attended the event as guests and encouraged the craftsmen to save the art and culture of the State.
The Mahasangha also gave away the Silpashree Samman to craftsman Krushna Chandra Moharana, Silpi Sakha Samman to social activist Bipin Sahoo and Silpi Sahayogi Samman to the Baleswar-based Baulagadia Stone Craft Cooperative Society. The event was chaired by Mahasangha president Bhaskar Maharana in the presence of executive president Uday Mohanty.