Sisir Saras-2026 to Turn Bhubaneswar into ‘Mini India Market’ from January 10

Bhubaneswar: Sisir Saras-2026, the flagship annual rural enterprise fair organised by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Government of Odisha, is set to be held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground here from January 10 to January 18, 2026.

The mega fair aims to provide a direct marketing platform to rural producers, artisans and women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), enabling them to showcase and sell their products without intermediaries. This year’s edition will be organised in collaboration with Mission Shakti and will see participation from artisans and producers from Odisha and nearly 20 states across the country.

The exhibition ground will be transformed into a vibrant “Mini India Market”, featuring 340 sales stalls and 35 food stalls. A wide range of Odisha’s traditional handicrafts and handloom products will be on display, including handloom textiles from Bargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir and Subarnapur; lac products from Balasore; paper mache from Keonjhar; woodcraft from Kandhamal and Kalahandi; golden grass crafts from Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur; terracotta from Balangir; lemongrass and black rice from Koraput; and millet-based products from Sundargarh.

Adding to the diversity, the fair will also showcase crafts and textiles from other states such as Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh, Kosa silk from Chhattisgarh, Tussar silk from Jharkhand, Chikankari from Uttar Pradesh, woollen garments from Jammu and Kashmir, Phulkari from Punjab, block prints from Madhya Pradesh and artificial jewellery from Karnataka.

To strengthen rural enterprises, six workshops and training programmes will be conducted during the fair, involving around 850 members of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and SHGs. These sessions will focus on value addition, enterprise development, branding, improving product shelf life and enhancing market competitiveness.

Cultural programmes will be a major attraction of Sisir Saras-2026, featuring performances by renowned artists. A special musical night will be organised in memory of popular Odia singer Humane Sagar, while kite and drone shows and fashion shows are expected to add to the festive atmosphere.

Special emphasis will be laid on maintaining a clean and plastic-free environment at the venue. Adequate arrangements for lighting, security and drinking water will be ensured. The fair is expected to generate business worth around ₹30 crore, providing a significant boost to rural livelihoods.

Minister of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Rural Development Shri Rabi Narayan Naik described Sisir Saras as an ideal platform to promote the spirit of “Vocal for Local” and a strong step towards building an Atmanirbhar Odisha. He extended his best wishes to the organisers and urged participants to make the event a grand success.