Sonepur: The second day of the Suvarna Lok Mahotsav started with a performance by the chief guest, Birmaharajpur legislator, Padmanava Behera, on Monday evening.

The legislator sang the popular bhajan, Michha duniya ra gotie sata, Jagannatha se mo Jagannatha, setting the tone for other performances of the evening.

Folk dances from different parts of Western Odisha dominated the stage on the second day. The highlight of the evening was 'Rasarkeli', a performance by Rang Pharua, a Sambalpur-based group founded by Sambalpuri singer Durga Dash. The group enthralled the audience with Rasarkeli, which is a popular dance form in Sambalpuri style in which both male and female take part. The dancers wear a Sambalpuri sari while performing the art form. The other performances in the evening included a dance performance by a Rajasthani troupe, Odissi by Bhubaneswar-based Mokshya and Sambalpuri by Brundaban Sanskrutika Sansad of Kesinga. The seven-day long event is organised jointly by the District Culture Council of Sonepur and state department of language, literature and culture on Gandhi ground.

Addressing the audience, Behera said these were a medium to showcase our art, culture and tradition to the world. "Ours is an agrarian district, but it has immense tourism potential. We must emphasise on the tourism potential of Sonepur," he said.

The other attraction at the festival is the Pallishree Mela, sponsored by Ormas, an Odisha government agency responsible for formation and management of self help groups. The event offers an array of choices to the people to buy things which are otherwise not available throughout the year. "I eagerly wait for Pallishree Mela as there are many things which you get here but will not find at other time of the year," said homemaker Lalita Mishra.