Take the tribal route via Odisha capital for best in art and craft

Bhubaneswar: Tribal artifacts are famous for its uniqueness and earthy feel. This year's National Tribal Art and Craft Festival at the Tribal Art Museum here displays some really interesting accessories, clothes, and home decor items which you can buy without burning a hole in your pocket!

Here are some of the hand-made bits our team spotted:

Dhokra craft: Bathudi tribe of Odisha's Mayurbhanj district make idols and showpieces from brass, which is given shape by using bee-wax. 

Paddy craft: These are the accessories and showpieces made with paddy seeds and thread by Bhottada tribe from Nabarangapur. Sabai grass craft: You will come across baskets and mats made of sabai grass that the Durgadevi self-help group of Bathudi tribe make, in state's Mayurbhanj district. The lady here demonstrated the making of baskets with needle and sabai grass.

'Kotta' baskets: Kotta is a type of bamboo basket hand-made by Cholanaikan tribe of Kerala. Cholanaikan, in their language, means king of the forest.Bamboo flower: Tripura's Riang tribe has brought beautifully crafted flowers and other showpieces too. You get this pretty piece at Rs 10 only! 

Siali craft: Mayurbhanj's Mankirdin tribe brought some really amazing siali craft, which involves the use of tree bark to make bags, baskets, and ropes.

Dhol: Wooden 'dhol' is the main attraction of Jharkhand's Oraon tribe which has on display various other items made up of wood, metal, and bamboo. 

Lacquer bangles: Santhal and Bathudi tribe of Balasore district is here with their famous lacquer craft. You can find a variety of colourful bangles here!

Beadwork: Hailing from Malkangiri, Bonda tribe is here with their headgears and other hand-woven accessories of beads.

Naga Sarang: This is a wooden musical instrument played by ethnic Naga tribe in Nagaland. Give yourself a tribal musical treat with this:

Besides the colourful display of art and craft, 'Mahuli ladu', the prime sweet of Juang, Santhali and other tribes will give you a taste of desserts eaten in tribal areas. If you are an art lover, look out for tribal paintings from Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh and 'worli' paintings from Maharashtra's tribes.

The seven-day mela, which began on November 24, is being organised by Directorate of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute in association with Ministry of Tribal Affairs.