Odisha's first GI store comes up in Bhubaneswar showcasing heritage products

Odisha’s first Geographical Indication (GI) store has opened its doors in the heart of Bhubaneswar, creating a permanent retail platform dedicated to the state's certified heritage products.

The store, located on Janpath near Master Canteen Square, was inaugurated by Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy on Friday and is the joint initiative of researcher Anita Sabat and entrepreneur Amrita Sabat, according to The New Indian Express.

Exclusive Outlet for Odisha’s GI Products

As per reports, the retail space is the first in the state to exclusively offer products that carry official GI certification or are in the final stages of acquiring one.

Odisha currently has 26 GI-tagged products, and the store brings many of them together under one roof. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between heritage-based producers and urban consumers while promoting Odisha’s cultural identity through its crafts, textiles, and traditional goods.

The outlet sources directly from artisan communities, weavers, and farmer groups who are involved in traditional economic activities.

Among the products on sale are the iconic Odisha Ikat, the naturally dyed Kotpad fabric, Sambalpuri Bandha sarees, Khandua and Bomkai textiles, Pipili’s famous applique work, intricate Pattachitra paintings, stone carvings from Konark, the aromatic Kandhamal turmeric, the much-loved Odisha rasagola, and jaggery made from palm sap known as Khajuri Guda.

Bringing Lesser-Known Crafts Into Focus

Alongside registered items, the store also features several heritage crafts and textiles that have submitted GI applications and are awaiting certification, including Santhal sarees, Talapatra engravings, and traditional Dhokra metalwork.