Jajpur: Kalinga Nagar Festival began at Maa Mahapat ground at Telibahali in Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex on Friday evening.

Sports and youth affairs minister Chandra Sarathi Behera inaugurated the festival in the presence of local legislator Pritiranjan Ghadei and film actor Anu Choudhury.

Earlier, in the day, a run was organised on the eve of the festival where hundreds of men and women took part. Sources said this was for the first time such a festival was being organised in the industrial complex area.

"The prime objective of organising this festival to build a cordial relationship between the industries located at Kalinga Nagar and the local people. Besides, we will entourage unemployed youths of the locality to take advantage of the industrialisation and make their livelihood through it," said Pritiranjan Ghadei, chairman of the Kalinga Nagar Mahotsav Committee.

This apart, the festival will promote art, culture, heritage, cuisine and handicrafts from the area, he said.

A meeting was organised at night where health and law minister Pratap Jena, former finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, legislators Pranab Prakash Das, Debasis Nayak and Kalinga Nagar additional district magistrate Abdul Alim Khan took part.

Addressing the gathering, Ghadei said: "Kalinga Nagar Industrial complex was the dream child of former chief minister Biju Patnaik 25 years ago. Now, the steel hub has created a special identity not only in India but also abroad."

The festival will give a platform to youngsters to showcase their talents. Dance and melody troupes forms from Odisha and Mumbai will also take part in the festival.