THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

GREATER NOIDA, OCTOBER 13, 2026

Odisha’s rich handloom traditions and distinctive handicrafts are drawing keen interest from domestic and international buyers at the 62nd IHGF Delhi Autumn Fair 2026, with artisans receiving orders that signal fresh opportunities for market expansion and export growth.

The Odisha Pavilion, organised by the state government’s Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, was inaugurated here on Tuesday by Commissioner-cum-Secretary Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, who toured the exhibits and appreciated the diversity of traditional crafts and textile products on display.

The five-day fair, being held at the India Expo Centre and Mart from October 13 to 17, brings together products spanning home furnishings, lifestyle, fashion, furniture, gifts and interiors, providing a business-to-business platform for manufacturers, designers, exporters and buyers.

Speaking at the inauguration, Kumar said the participation of Odisha’s artisans and weavers would help showcase the state’s cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship to wider national and international markets.

The fair offers an opportunity to connect traditional producers with buyers, designers and business organisations, opening avenues for new markets and exports, she said, adding that such initiatives could help weavers and artisans secure fair value for their products and strengthen their livelihoods.

The Odisha Pavilion features an extensive range of traditional crafts, including Pattachitra paintings, terracotta, stone carvings, Pipili appliqué work, seashell crafts, Sabai grass products and Dhokra metalwork, reflecting the state’s distinctive artistic traditions and the skills of its artisan communities.

The state is also showcasing its celebrated handloom heritage through Sambalpuri textiles, Odisha Ikat, Bomkai and Khandua silk sarees, Kotpad, Gopalpur Tussar and Habaspuri sarees, as well as Karuna silk sarees. Several of these traditional products have received Geographical Indication (GI) recognition, underscoring their regional identity and cultural significance.

Beyond traditional textiles, the pavilion highlights the commercial versatility of handloom fabrics through contemporary products such as laptop bags, bedsheets, jackets, files, purses and home décor items. Live demonstrations of silk yarn preparation from different varieties of silk are also offering visitors a glimpse into traditional textile-making techniques.

The intricate designs, fine detailing and distinctive craftsmanship of Odisha’s products have attracted visitors and business representatives from India and abroad. Buyers are exploring the exhibits and placing orders with artisans for future business, pointing to opportunities for expanding the reach of the state’s traditional products.

The participation also highlights the scope for linking heritage-based production with evolving consumer preferences, as traditional fabrics and crafts find applications in contemporary lifestyle and home décor segments.

The inauguration was attended by Additional Resident Commissioner Sucharita Sarangi, India Expo Centre and Mart Executive Director and CEO Sudip Samarendra Sarkar, FICCI Additional Director Braja Kishore Nayak, Odisha Additional Director of Sericulture and Resham Odisha Managing Director Surya Narayan Pattnaik, along with other senior departmental officials.

The IHGF Delhi Autumn Fair is serving as a platform for Odisha to present its traditional craftsmanship to a wider business audience, with buyer interest and orders offering participating artisans prospects for sustained commercial engagement.