24th March 2025: The seventh edition of Kalabhoomi Utsav began at the Odisha Crafts Museum on Saturday, celebrating the state’s rich cultural and craft heritage. The five-day event brings together artisans, craftsmen, and art lovers to highlight Odisha’s traditional arts.
During the opening ceremony, Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Secretary of the Handloom, Textiles, and Handicrafts Department, reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting Odisha’s artisans. She praised their role in preserving the state’s cultural legacy. Padma Shri awardee Prabhakar Maharana and other dignitaries also attended the event.
The festival featured a stone carving workshop, “Sthapatya: Etching Livelihood on Stone,” with a panel discussion by national award-winning artisans. Experts shared their knowledge on the challenges and future of stone carving.
The event also includes a drawing competition for students on March 23, a summer camp for youth on March 24, and a specialized workshop on product packaging for artisans, scheduled for March 25 and 26 in partnership with the Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkata.