  |
| Adivashi Mela 2020, Bhubaneswar |
My second visit to Adivasi Mela 2020 was as exciting as my first visit. It was the second last day of the fair but I still had an amazing experience. I also came to know about an interesting trivia regarding the Adivasi Mela. First held in 1951, apparently this tribal fair previously used to be held every year in Cuttack. But in 1982, the venue was shifted to Bhubaneswar and ever since, the tribal fair has been organised in the capital city.
You may also love to read about My first visit to Adivasi Mela 2020 -
 |
| Adivashi Mela 2020, Bhubaneswar |
This time around, I was accompanied by mummy and not surprisingly, she bought a whole lot of spices and forest products like turmeric powder, mustard seeds, flax seeds, arrowroot (palua), frankincense (jhuna), neem oil, castor oil and several other herbs. The Adivasi Mela is especially popular among the denizens of Bhubaneswar and nearby places for the wide variety of pure and organic spices, as well as for the beautifully handcrafted souvenirs available at the fair.
 |
| Adivashi Mela 2020, Bhubaneswar |
While the tribal hamlet on the left side of the exhibition ground, with the life-size replicas of tribal huts, was undoutedly a crowd favourite but equally popular were the stalls lined up at the periphery inside the ground, those that were selling distinct tribal home decor products. From dhokra items to traditional tribal jewelleries to paper mache to wooden handicrafts to Saura and gond paintings, there was a wide range of tribal artefacts there. It was an absolute delight exploring those stalls as most of the products being sold there had a distinct traditional touch.
 |
| Adivashi Mela 2020, Bhubaneswar |
By the time, we reached the exit gate, I was dead tired, but it was also a thoroughly enriching experience. The Tribal Fair certainly brought alive the rich folk and tribal culture of Odisha in all its splendour. I left the exhibition ground with a silent hope - to be back at the Adivasi Mela again next year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some Helpful Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(a) Adivasi Mela is an annual affair, held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground, Unit 3, Bhubaneswar for 15 days, usually starting from 26th of January every year.
(b) Is there an entry fee to visit the Adivasi Mela?
No, the Adivasi Mela is a free for all event, with no entry fees charged whatsoever. Anyone can visit and explore the stalls at the Tribal Fair festival without any fees.
PLEASE NOTE :
The photographs and video shown here are copyrighted to Candid Opinions (www.candidopinions.in). Reproduction of any of the contents, including the photographs and video without prior consent/permission of the writer, will attract legal action.
Excerpts and links from my blog may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Candid Opinions (www.candidopinions.in) with appropriate and specific link to my blog post.
