Annual Terracotta Exhibition Mruttika-2025 kicks off

Bhubaneswar(13/10/2025):.Terracotta and Pottery Craft symbolizes Odisha’s ancient culture and glorious heritage.

More than 36,000 artisans across the state earn their livelihood through this craft.

The annual Terracotta Exhibition aims to economically empower these artisans and promote this rich handicraft tradition, said Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Minister Pradip Bal Samant. Addressing the media during the inaugural ceremony of the “Annual Terracotta Exhibition ‘Mruttika–2025’,” held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground, Bhubaneswar on Monday, the Minister highlighted the importance of the state’s terracotta heritage.

The event is organized every year during Diwali by the Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Department. Attending the inaugural ceremony, Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, stated that the main objective of this event is to enhance the commercial prospects and economic development of artisans by showcasing terracotta and pottery crafts under one roof. The “Annual Terracotta Exhibition: Mruttika” will be held from October 13 to October 19, 2025.

This year, 210 stalls have been set up, and the exhibition will remain open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM.

Around 350 terracotta and pottery artisans across all districts of Odisha are participating in this event.

The total business during the exhibition is expected to exceed Rs 3 crore.

Cultural programs are being organized every evening.

In the theme pavilion, the journey of terracotta handicrafts from traditional artistry to modern decorative items has been showcased. There are more than 40 terracotta craft clusters in the state.

Among the 61 handicrafts recognized by the State Government, “Terracotta and Pottery” is one of the most ancient crafts.

All participating artisans have been provided with free stalls, along with travel expenses, daily allowances, and transportation costs for materials, by the Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Department of the State Government. For the development of infrastructure in the handicrafts sector, Common Facility Centres / Handicraft Tourism Centres / Raw Material Banks are being established in 28 major handicraft clusters across the state.

These projects are being made operational in a phased manner under the brand name 'Srujanika'.

The State Government, in the recent past, has increased the daily allowance of artisans for their exposure visits outside the state from Rs 300 to Rs 500.

To promote handicrafts and create a new generation of artisans, the State Government has operationalize 18 new training centres across 17 districts during the current year.