Bhubaneswar, March 27 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to inaugurate the annual Toshali Craft mela on March 28 next, Odisha Minister of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Padmini Dian said here on Sunday. Organised jointly by the state Handlooms, Textiles, Handicraft department in association with the Development Commissioner (Handloom and Development Commissioner Handicraft of on Ministry of Textiles and SIDAC the mela will continue up to April 10 next with strict Covid protocols. The mela is organised every year intending to offer an open forum to artists, artisans and connoisseurs of art for interaction, strengthen the position of weavers and artisans by creating markets for their products and preserve and nurture the traditional art forms, handicrafts and Handlooms. Dian said this year the theme pavilion of the mela will showcase the development of golden grass craft of Kendrapara district under the Sankalp National Plot Project. As many as 390 artisans and weavers will participate in the mela from different parts of the country. Out of it 350 weavers and artisans will be sponsored by Development Commissioner Handlooms/ DC Handicrafts of the on government. Similarly, 150 artisans and 90 weavers of the state will be sponsored by the Directorate of Handicrafts and Directorate of textiles and Handlooms Odisha. The Minister said this year around 15 lakh people are expected to visit the mela and products worth Rs 15 crore will be sold approximately. Last year the Mela witnessed a footfall of 14 lakh people and Rs 12.38 crore business was achieved. BD ARN