Bhubaneswar, 8 December (H.S.): The 18th State-Level Kalinga Herbal Mela–2025, organised by the Odisha State Medicinal Plants Board under the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, will be held from December 10 to 16 at the IDCO Exhibition Ground, Unit-3, Bhubaneswar. Launched in 2008, the fair has evolved into a key platform for VSS members, farmers, traditional healers, medicinal plant collectors, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, forest officials, NGOs, SHGs, and the general public.

This year, 130 stalls will be set up, with over 260 participants from Odisha and several other states. Regional Kalinga Herbal Melas will also be organised in Rairangpur, Keonjhar, and Malkangiri.

The fair will be inaugurated at 6 PM on December 10 by Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia. Senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, PCCF (HoFF) Suresh Pachh, PCCF (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha, and CEO of the Medicinal Plants Board Kartik V. will attend.

The mela aims to promote collaboration, trade, education, and awareness in the medicinal plant sector, along with showcasing traditional health systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Last year, leading companies like Dabur, Emami, Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, Baidyanath, Multani, and Basic Ayurveda participated, generating a business of ₹1.02 crore. This year, the turnover is expected to exceed ₹2 crore.

Daily cultural programmes will be held from 7 PM to 9 PM. Free health camps by government Ayurvedic and Homeopathic doctors, along with online student quizzes, will also be organised.

The State Medicinal Plants Board has urged people to participate in the event and benefit from both its scientific and cultural offerings.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda