Bhubaneswar, April 9: The 33rd edition of the National Baishakhi Festival, one of the popular cultural festivals of the state, is round the corner.
Observing the Odia New Year Maha Bishuba Sankranti, popularly known as Pana Sankranti, the weeklong festival will commence on April 15.
The festival is organised by cultural organisation Chinta O’ Chetana in collaboration with the state culture and tourism department, Iffco and KIIT University and will be held at Jayadev Bhavan.
During the festival, Uttarakhand governor Aziz Qureshi and Odisha governor S.C. Jamir will be felicitated with the Nilachakra Award — an honour instituted by the organisation. Twelve talented personalities will be conferred the Chinta O’ Chetana national award, while 14 names have been selected for the Chinta O’ Chetana Baishakhi Samman.
“Jury is consisted of members from the song and drama division of the ministry of information and broadcasting; state culture, tourism and panchayati raj departments and many other bodies of the central and state governments, corporate institutions, non-government bodies and other cultural institutions,” said Surendra Das, Chinta O’ Chetana secretary general.
Jamir will inaugurate the cultural soiree. On other days, the governors of Kerala, Uttrakhand and Nagaland will grace the festival with their presence.
“Several other eminent personalities from different walks of life will attend the festival,” said Das.
Every cultural evening will commence with Jagannath Pahandi. The festival will feature classical, folk and traditional dance and music from all across India including dance forms such as Odissi, Chhau, Ghumura, Sambalpuri, Bihu, Gotipua, Naga, Manipuri, Bharatnatyam, Daskathia, Pala and Ghoda Nacha. Chinta O’chetana, founded by former chief minister Harekrushna Mahtab in 1980, has spread its branches all over India and now is a noted organisation of the country, said Das.
Festival director and renowned dancer Ratikant Mohapatra, whose troupe from Srjan will perform at the festival, said the event always showcased folk as well as classical dance forms from all over India on one platform.
