Sisir Saras 2026 Gets Two-Day Extension as Visitor Interest Peaks; ORMAS Partners With CPCRI

Bhubaneswar: Drawing an overwhelming public response, the rural fair Sisir Saras 2026 has been extended till January 20, organisers announced on Saturday. The event, being jointly organised by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) and Subhadra Shakti at the IDCO Exhibition Ground, has witnessed a steady rise in footfall since its opening on January 10.

Officials said the extension was necessitated by the enthusiastic participation of visitors, with packed food courts, bustling handicraft and handloom stalls, vibrant rural enterprise displays and well-attended cultural evenings turning the fair into a major attraction for city residents and tourists alike.

Adding a major developmental dimension to the event, ORMAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kerala, operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The agreement focuses on promoting value-added coconut-based products through technology transfer, aimed at strengthening livelihoods linked to coconut cultivation in the state.

ICAR-CPCRI Director K. Balachandra Hebbar noted that Odisha has been identified by the Union government as one of the country’s most promising states for coconut farming due to its favourable climate and strong market prospects. He said the collaboration would help boost farmers’ incomes and appreciated the state government for swiftly facilitating the MoU.

Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Rabi Narayan Naik said Sisir Saras should serve as more than a temporary marketplace. Stressing the need to sustain rural livelihoods, he appealed to the public to actively support artisans and women self-help groups by adopting handloom and locally produced goods in everyday life and during festivals.

The fair also recognised outstanding contributions from community-based organisations and self-help groups from across the country. Sakhi Mandal of Gujarat received the Best Display award, while Sundargarh Agricraft Producer Company was honoured with the Best New Product award. The Best Packaging award went to Pottangi Agro Producer Company of Koraput, and the Mayur-Shilpa Producer Group of Mayurbhanj won the Best Food Stall award for achieving the highest sales.

Other accolades included Best Outside State New Product for Ashara Aloka of Tripura, Best Theme Stall for the Nilagiri Lacquer Producer Group of Balasore, and Best Selling Skills for the Laxmi Narayan Women Self-Help Group of Jajpur.

ORMAS Chief Executive Officer Monica Priyadarshini, Additional CEO Sanjeeb Kumar Singh and other senior officials were present during the programme. Minister Naik lauded the coordinated efforts of ORMAS and Subhadra Shakti, describing Sisir Saras as an effective bridge between rural producers and urban consumers.

With colourful folk performances, lively food courts and a dedicated children’s zone continuing to draw crowds, organisers are optimistic that the extended fair will witness even higher footfall in the coming days.