Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited annual Adivasi Mela-2024 will held in Odisha capital from January 26 to February 5.
According to an official release, the fair is being organised at its original location, Adivasi Exhibition Ground at Unit-I, after a gap of six years and will remain open from 2.30 pm to 9 pm. Stalls in the traditional Adivasi Haat and Tribal Art and Crafts segment will be erected by 22 Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs), 17 Micro Project Areas (MPAs), and various line departments of the state government.
The annual culture-cum-trade fair is a flagship event of SC/ST Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department, featuring tribal life and anthropology while providing a market for the sale of agricultural products, minor forest produce and craft materials.
The most interesting part of the fair is life-size Adivasi Gaon (tribal huts) showcasing the lifestyle and culture of the different tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). This year, huts of Kutia Kandha, Santhal, Paudi Bhuyan, Hill Khadia and Mankirdia, Juanga Munda, Gadaba, Dongria Kandha, Lanjia Saora, Bonda and Chuktia Bhunjia will be erected at the fair ground.
While 39 cultural groups will stage tribal dances from January 26 to February 1, a Bhajan Sandhya will be organised on January 30, and a drama by the SC/ST Development Department Cultural Association on February 2. Similarly, multilingual dramas by different tribal communities will be staged between February 3 and 5.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) associated with the ITDAs and MPAs will showcase their products, art and craft items. Mission Shakti, ORMAS, Millet Mission, Handloom Textiles and Handicrafts, Planning and Convergence, I&PR, and institutions like SCSTRTI, Academy of Tribal Languages and Culture (ATLC), Tribal Museum and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences will also participate in the fair.
Cashless transaction facilities through digital payment options will be available, enabling the public to explore and enjoy tribal products more conveniently. The use of plastics and polythene is strictly prohibited, and any possession of these materials during the event will be punishable, the release added.
HISTORY
The fair of the 62 tribal communities of Odisha, including 13 PVTGs, first started in 1951 in Cuttack, the then capital of Odisha. It was later relocated to Bhubaneswar in 1954 and held at Adivasi Exhibition Ground, Unit-I. Subsequently, due to law-and-order concerns, the venue was shifted to Idco Exhibition Ground, Unit-III, Bhubaneswar, from 2018.
The event, organised by the Academy of Tribal Languages and Culture (ATLC) on behalf of the department, was initially a week-long affair but, after 2010, it was extended to 15 days due to its growing popularity.
On average, more than 10 lakh people attend the event and buy organic tribal products and minor forest produces.