Bhubaneswar: The annual Sisir Saras fair, which is organised every year by Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) under the panchayati raj and drinking water department, was inaugurated on Friday by minister for fisheries and livestock development Gokulananda Mallick. Artisans, self-help groups and producers from across Odisha and several other states are participating in the fair, showcasing a diverse range of handicrafts, handloom and indigenous products.Addressing the gathering, Mallick said Sisir Saras is more than a marketplace and represents a celebration of Odisha’s rural self-reliance, indigenous identity and cultural heritage. He said the fair embodies the spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’ and plays a key role in promoting GI-tagged and indigenous products such as Sambalpuri and Subarnapur handlooms, Kalajeera rice from Koraput and millet-based products from Sundargarh at the national-level. A total of 340 stalls, including 35 food stalls, were set up at this year’s edition of Sisir Saras. Participants from 30 districts of Odisha and 20 other states are participating in the fair.This year, ORMAS expects a business of at least Rs 30 crore for the rural artisans from the fair.
