Odisha to promote its handicrafts during Hockey World Cup

BHUBANESWAR: With an aim to make the best use of upcoming Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup as a platform to promote rich cultural heritage to the world, Odisha government has decided to use trophies and mementos made of local handicrafts and handloom.

The specially designed gifts and mementos have been made in Odisha’s traditional Dhokra and silver filigree work while the players and officials will be given silk stoles woven in traditional Sambalpuri style.

“Apart from players, officials and audiences from the 16 participating countries in the world cup, sports lovers from across the globe will visit Bhubaneswar for the world cup. We must not miss the opportunity to showcase the rich traditional and cultural heritage,” said Satya Ranjan Sahu, managing director of Utkalika, the Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation Ltd.

Sahu said, the dhokra trophies are being made by dhokra artists of Mayurbhanj district while silver trophies are being made by the filigree artists of Cuttack. The trophies are being packed in attractive acrylic, velvet and lacquer boxes.

“All artisans engaged in making these products are award winning artists of the state. They are working hard to make the artifacts within the deadline as very few days are left for the hockey world cup,” Sahu added.

Sambalpuri Bastralaya has been assigned the task of making 610 silk stoles. Similarly Hastika- a handicrafts manufacturing unit is making 175 designer jute bags for packing the mementos as gifts.

The dhokra craft mementos featuring a hockey stick and a ball were recently presented to the players and officials of New South Wales team, who played two exhibition matches with team Odisha in the run up to the world cup.

Besides, Odisha Tourism, host partner of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar participated at the World Travel Market in London to promote the state, its attractions and hockey world cup to the global tourism industry.

The fair took place from November 5 to 7 in the ExCel London exhibition space and the tourism officials had attended many business to business (B2B) meeting with potential visitors and investors.

Chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi led a contingency comprising tourism director Archana Patnaik, assistant director Odisha Tourism Biswajit Routray and tourist officer RK Pattnaik.

Odisha Tourism stall appeared vibrant with cutouts of Sun Temple, Konark and also branding of Odisha Tourism's exclusive campaign for the Hockey World Cup - 'Odisha by Morning, Hockey by Evening'.

Last year Odisha received a record footfall of foreign tourists numbering 84,658. The state also participated in other national and international events and organised its first roadshows in Malaysia and Thailand.