Posted On:
24 OCT 2026 8:06PM by PIB Raipur
With the objective of promoting tribal art, culture and traditional crafts and providing better markets to tribal artisans, the National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Bazaar 2026’ was inaugurated by Chhattisgarh Government’s Minister for Agriculture and Tribal Development, Shri Ramvichar Netam, at the Town Hall near Ghadi Chowk in the Collectorate premises. The event was organised by the Raipur Regional Office of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED). The festival, being held until November 2, features an exhibition and sale of handmade products created by tribal artisans and craftspeople from various states across the country.
On the occasion, Smt. Sanjeeta Gupta (IFS), Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, was present as the special guest.
Addressing the programme, Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam welcomed the tribal artists, craftspeople, artisans and officials who had arrived from various states across the country. He said that tribal communities possess an invaluable heritage of rich art, distinctive crafts and traditional skills passed down through generations. Through these art forms, tribal artisans express their culture, traditions, lifestyle and local characteristics in the form of products. The need of the hour is to provide these products with wider markets and ensure that artisans receive fair value for their hard work.
Shri Netam said that the demand for traditional and tribal products is increasing in major cities today. People are also giving handmade items, traditional jewellery and craftworks a place in their homes as decorative and collectible articles. In this context, events such as ‘Aadi Bazaar’ provide tribal artisans with opportunities to display and sell their products directly. This increases the visibility of their products and gives them access to wider markets.
He said that when artisans from different states display their products on a common platform, they get an opportunity to understand one another’s art, techniques and working styles. This enhances their experience and encourages innovation and skill development.
TRIFED stall should also be set up at Rajyotsav
Appreciating TRIFED’s efforts, Minister Shri Netam suggested that a TRIFED stall should also be set up at the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav so that more people can learn about tribal products and their distinctive features. He said that increased sales of these products would raise artisans’ incomes and provide them with better livelihood opportunities.
He also suggested that competitions should be organised from time to time among registered societies affiliated with TRIFED and artisans. Such initiatives would promote healthy competition, enhance artisans’ skills and improve product quality.
Shri Netam said that tribal communities also play an important role in making several traditional products, herbal items and other goods based on local resources related to forests and minor forest produce. Continuous efforts should be made through TRIFED to connect these products with markets and promote them widely. This would create new opportunities for tribal entrepreneurs, artisans and craftspeople to progress.
Around 30 stalls showcasing products of 80 artisans
At the ten-day ‘Aadi Bazaar 2026’, around 30 stalls have been set up, representing nearly 80 tribal artisans and craftspeople from different parts of the country. Visitors have the opportunity to purchase traditional handicrafts, handloom products, textiles, traditional jewellery, paintings, and natural and organic products.
The exhibition features Chhattisgarh’s kosa silk and Dhokra craft; Odisha’s Sambalpuri sarees and Saura paintings; Madhya Pradesh’s Bagh prints, Maheshwari sarees and Gond paintings; West Bengal’s Kantha-embroidered sarees and traditional jewellery; traditional textiles and jewellery from Rajasthan; jute products and tribal jewellery from Jharkhand; and cane and bamboo crafts from the northeastern states. Bamboo products from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Araku coffee and other distinctive handicrafts are also on display.
Minister Shri Netam extended his best wishes to TRIFED and the organisers for the successful event. He expressed confidence that such events would play an important role in preserving tribal art and culture while strengthening the economic self-reliance of artisans.
TRIFED has appealed to citizens to visit the festival at the Town Hall, Collectorate premises, Raipur, by November 2, 2026, explore the exhibition, purchase products made by tribal artisans, and contribute to the preservation and promotion of the country’s rich tribal art and cultural heritage.
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RDJ/PJ/RK