Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is all set to transform into a vibrant “Mini India Market” with the grand hosting of Sisir Saras 2026, a mega rural products fair scheduled from January 10 to January 18 at the IDCO Exhibition Ground. The much-awaited event will bring together the richness of India’s rural economy under one roof, showcasing an extraordinary range of handicrafts, handlooms, food products, and traditional specialties from across the country. Addressing the media after a preparatory meeting, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik described Sisir Saras as a powerful platform to promote “Vocal for Local” while advancing the vision of an Atmanirbhar Odisha. The fair is being organised by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department in collaboration with Mission Shakti, with a strong focus on empowering rural artisans, entrepreneurs, and women Self Help Groups.

This year’s Sisir Saras will feature around 340 sales stalls and 35 food stalls, with participation from all 30 districts of Odisha and over 20 other Indian states. Organisers have set an ambitious cumulative business target of Rs 30 crore, underlining the fair’s role in providing direct market access to rural producers and strengthening livelihood opportunities. The exhibition will prominently highlight Odisha’s rich handicraft and handloom heritage, including handloom textiles from Bargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, and Subarnapur, lac products from Balasore, paper mache crafts 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. Visitors will also get the opportunity to explore distinctive products from across India such as Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh, Kosa and Tussar silk from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Chikankari embroidery from Uttar Pradesh, woollen garments from Jammu and Kashmir, Phulkari from Punjab, block prints from Madhya Pradesh, and artificial jewellery from Karnataka.

Beyond shopping and cultural exchange, Sisir Saras 2026 will also serve as a capacity building platform. The fair will host six specialised workshops and training programmes for nearly 850 members of SHGs and community based organisations. These sessions will focus on value addition, branding, enterprise development, extension of product shelf life, and improving market competitiveness, helping rural entrepreneurs scale up their ventures sustainably. Entertainment will be another major attraction, with a series of cultural performances by renowned artists, along with kite shows, drone shows, fashion shows, and a special musical night in memory of the late popular Odia singer Humane Sagar. With its blend of commerce, culture, training, and entertainment, Sisir Saras 2026 is poised to become one of the biggest rural haats of the year, celebrating India’s diversity while boosting Odisha’s rural economy and women led enterprises.