Kalinga herbal Fair draws crowds

If footfall to the ongoing Kalinga Herbal Fair here is any indication, there seems to be craze for ayurvedic treatment among people. Even youths are seen making a beeline for ayurvedic medicines.
The five-day fair which opened on Saturday has been organised by State Medicinal Plants Board, Odisha, in association with Berhampur forest division to provide market linkage to traders of tranditional medicines.
"The herbal medicines have no side effects," said MLA (Berhampur) R C Chyaupatnaik, an allopathic doctor who inaugurated the fair. He suggested development of a herbal garden in Berhampur to create awareness among the people on ayurvedic medicines.

The fair has 50-stalls. Vaidya Sanghas and ayurvedic medicine manufacturing companies from across the state are taking part.
"It will not only promote sale of herbal products but also create awareness among people for conservation of medical plants," said regional chief conservator of forests (Berhampur), Jitendra Kumar.
The duration of the fair was increased from three to five days in last two years due to the rising demand among people for ayurvedic medicines, said divisional forest officer (Berhampur) S S Mishra.
Seminars, workshops and cultural programmes are being organised on the sidelines.