A week-long stone craft Mela is underway at the Olasuni Festival in a hillock at Olasuni village under Badachana block in Jajpur district.
Many stone craft artists from various places, including Puri, Baleswar and Khordha gathered at the spot to sell their products at the Mela that would end on February 15. Around 55 stalls have been put up at the fair.
The Mela was designed to provide a working and learning experience to craftsmen and a platform where a wide range of stone crafts of the villages near Olasuni would be displayed, said district Collector SK Mallick.
“Each year we sell our products at the Olasunui Festival as thousands of people come here to purchase stone-grinders, Chakis and other household articles. This year, the authorities provided us stalls and we hope to earn more this year”, said Ramachandra Moharabna, a local artist.
Rs 10 crore would be spend to develop two stone-caring villages of lalitgiri and Sukhuapada as the villages near Olasuni are under the Union Government’s craft village scheme, said Handicraft and Cottage Industry Director Sanghamitra Kanungo on Tuesday. Both the proposed craft villages at lalitagiri and Sukhuapada are expected to revive the stone-carving craft sector and improve the financial condition of skilled craft
persons.