The stage is set for the much-awaited annual Adivasi Mela, a culture and trade fair of 62 tribal communities, including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTGs), from January 26 to February 5 at the State’s capital Bhubaneswar.
The annual Adivasi Mela is a flagship event of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department. It attracts people from the state capital and nearby areas; showcasing tribal life; anthropology and providing a market for the sale of agricultural products, minor forest produce and craft materials.
The fair also features events such as beautiful tribal dances, a multilingual drama festival in tribal languages, a drama presented by the SC/ST Development Department Cultural Association and a Bhajan Sandhya.
The most interesting part of the festival is the creation of life-size Adivasi Gaon (tribal huts) showcasing the lifestyle and culture of the different tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). This year, the tribal huts will include the huts of Kutia Kandha, Santhal, Paudi Bhuyan, Hill Khadia and Mankirdia, Juanga Munda, Gadaba, Dongria Kandha, Lanjia Saora, Bonda and Chuktia Bhunjia.
While 39 cultural groups will be staging beautiful tribal dances from January 26 to February 1, a Bhajan Sandhya will be organised on January 30, and a drama by the SC/ST Development Department Cultural Association on February 2. Similarly, multilingual dramas by different tribal communities will be organised between February 3 and 5.
The annual Adivasi Mela was first started in 1951 in Cuttack, the then capital of Odisha. It was later relocated to Bhubaneswar, the new capital, in 1954.
The event serves as a platform to raise awareness about the tribal development scenario in the state, highlighting how tribal communities integrate themselves with the mainstream while preserving their anthropogenic identity and uniqueness. On average, more than 10 lakh people attend the event, happily procuring organic tribal products and minor forest products.