Odisha GI Authorised User Camp By NHDC

Each year, on August 1st, we celebrate Sambalpuri Din and wear Sambalpuri Bandha, an iconic weave of Odisha that has the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and is also recognized by UNESCO.

The 13th Sambapuri Din i.e. Sambalpuri Day is being celebrated today.

It was a great honour to attend and address the GI Camp with Sambalpuri Bandha weavers three days ago, thanks to the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC).

Even shared about Sambalpuri Din in my presentation!

Uniform Spelling And Authorised Users Of Odisha Rasagola #RasagolaA2Z

The word Rasgulla is spelled in many different ways in India. 

There is no uniformity though the Hindi word "Rasgulla" is more commonly used. The pronunciation too depends on the spelling.

Actually, even Odisha state's name, language and dance- Odisha, Odia and Odissi are constantly being misspelled by all, including those in power. 

Is it too tough to take care and spell correctly?

Spelling someone's name right is also ensuring and showing love, respect, and care.

At least Rasagola must be spelled the same all across the state of Odisha.

This writer has been trying to explain this to the producer groups, government officials, intellectuals, social media users, and all. 

More in this blog post- #RasagolaDibasa - Spelling Is Rasagola 

Initiating #RasagolaDibasa i.e. Hashtag - "Rasagola Dibasa" online, apart from informing all that Odisha is the birthplace of the Rasagola and Niladri Bije is a centuries-old continuing tradition of Rath Yatra, was an attempt to stress on our Rasagola spelling too.

Why is Rasagola still being allowed to be spelled in so many different ways? 

Even after celebrating #RasagolaDibasa online for the last couple of years starting 2015, and despite eminent sand-artist Padma Shri Sudarsan Pattnaik creating amazing sand-art with "Rasagola Dibasa" prominently mentioned, why do some people distort our Rasagola's spelling and even use different hashtag by changing the spelling of Dibasa to Divas or Diwas or Divasa etc?

Registered Proprietors And Authorised Users of Geographical Indications (GIs) #OdishaGI #KnowYourGI

A Geographical Indication certificate/tag is used to identify goods having unique or special characteristics and originating from a definite geographical area.

In December 1999, Parliament passed the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. This Act seeks to provide for the registration and protection of Geographical Indications relating to goods in India. This Act is administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is the Registrar of Geographical Indications. The Geographical Indications Registry is located at Chennai.

About Geographical Indication (GI)

GI is an indication that:

·  Is used to identify agricultural, natural, or manufactured goods originating in a specific area,

·  Originates from a definite territory in India (or world),

·  Has a special quality or characteristics unique to the geographical indication.

Sambalpuri Bandha Saree - GI of Odisha, India

Some examples of Geographical Indications of India:

Darjeeling Tea, Basmati Rice, Sambalpuri Bandha Saree & Fabrics, Nagpur Orange, Odisha Rasagola etc.