Annual Adivasi Mela 2022

ADIVASI MELA

The Annual Adivasi Mela, the annual Cultural-cum-Trade Fair was first held during the year 1951 at Cuttack, the then state capital of Odisha. It was shifted to Bhubaneswar, the new capital city in 1954 and was held at Adivasi Exhibition Ground, Unit-1, Bhubaneswar since then. Subsequently, the Adivasi Mela is being organised at IDCO Exhibition Ground, Unit-III, Bhubaneswar from the year 2018 onwards by the ST and SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Govt. of Odisha. The Mela which used to be held for a week earlier is now being held for a fortnight from the year 2010 onwards considering the popularity of the event gained over the years. This year it will be held from April 23 to May 3, 2022.

The main objective of the Adivasi Mela is promotion and celebration of the traditions and handicrafts of the tribes of Odisha. It showcases the colorful tribal art and craft, forest and tribal produces, tribal cuisines along with stage performance of cultural programmes and tribal dances during the evening hours. Yet another objective of the Adivasi Mela is to spread awareness about the development of the tribes of Odisha by becoming a major tourist attraction. Local residents eagerly await this Annual event for purchasing their household requirements of organic spices & other items while the tourists visit the Mela to get an overall picture and feel of the tribal life & society. Over the years the Adivasi Mela has been witnessing huge footfalls of close to 8-10 lakhs visitors as well as attracting tourists from overseas. The Mela have facilities like First-Aid, Ambulance, Bank ATM services etc at the venue. Safety security measures of visitors are taken care of while the participants are given Insurance coverage.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Annual Adivasi Mela, 2021 was organized in a hybrid mode at Adivasi Exhibition Ground, Unit-I, Bhubaneswar with participation of only 100 Tribal SHGs sponsored by ITDAs & Micro Project Agencies. During current year, due to resurgence of COVID-19, the Adivasi Mela could not be organized as per the scheduled calendar i.e. from 26th January to 9th February, 2022. Subsequently, due to improvement in the situation and relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, the Adivasi Mela, 2022 is now being held from 23rd April to 2nd May 2022 at IDCO Exhibition Ground, Unit-III, Bhubaneswar. The Mela will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha on 23.04.2022 at 6 PM. There will be 100 stalls in total i.e. stalls by Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) (45), Micro Project Areas (17), Mission Shakti (21), ORMAS (15) and TDCC (2) to provide the ST SHGs with a platform to showcase and sell their agricultural and forest produces. Besides, 56 Tribal Dance Troupes will perform their traditional dance daily evening in the Adivasi Mela 2022.

Date and Time-

Adivasi Mela - 23.04.2022 to 02.05.2022 (3.30 P.M. to 9.30 PM) (10 days)

Venue - IDCO Exhibition Ground, (western-I & II), Unit- III, Bhubaneswar
Tribal Dance Programme - 23.04.2022 to 02.05.2022, (6.30 PM to 8.30 PM)
Inaugural Ceremony (Inauguration by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha) - 23.04.2022, 6.PM
Allotment of stalls (Total Stall : 102)
- No of stalls to be set up by ITDAs & MPAs by sponsoring ST SHGs - 61 Stalls (10’ x 10’)

[ITDAs (22) – 44 stalls, MPAs (17) – 17 stalls]

- Other Department Stalls - 37 Stalls

Mission Shakti – 20 stalls (Tribal SHGs)

ORMAS - 15 stalls (Tribal SHGs)

TDCCOL - 2 stalls (Tribal SHGs)

- Display & Publicity - 4 stalls

I & PR - 2 stalls

Tourism - 2 stalls

Participants for Adivasi Mela-2022
- No of Tribal SHGs to be sponsored by ITDAs & MPAs – 61
- No of participants @2ST persons per stall & one support staff / escort officer– 222
Participants of Tribal Dance Troupes: