A file picture of Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav

Sambalpur, Jan. 2: Residents here will have an opportunity to witness the congregation of more than three hundred folk artists and their performance during the Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav, which is scheduled to begin here this weekend.

“Twenty-three cultural teams from across the country will perform during the three-day-long festival. Through this festival we try to encourage and preserve the various art and dance forms of the country that are on the verge of extinction,” said co-ordinator of Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav Prafulla Dash.

Dying folk dances such as Bajnia and Dalkhai of Sambalpur, Parabha of Balangir, Karma of Sundargarh, Ghubkudu of Balangir, Sabar Sabren of Sonepur, Jhumar of Mayurbhanj, Chadheia of Ganjam, Ghumura of Bhawanipatna, Chutkuchuta of Birmaharajpur, Darau of Koraput, Bajasal of Bhawanipatna, Humo of Balangir, Sabda Nrutya of Bargarh, Goti Pua of Puri, Bonda Nrutya of Malkangiri, Ranapa of Ganjam, Dhap of Titilagarh, Kalbelia of Rajasthan, Bihu of Assam and Ghumar of Haryana will be performed during the festival this year.

The organisers of the folk festival have used a traditional way to create awareness about the festival by organising a Sagad Dingra (bullock cart).

“The bullock cart has been moving round the city since December 29 to inform residents about the festival,” said the festival co-ordinator.

Every year, the festival starts on January 4. It first began in 1997 with a purpose to revive the dying art forms. The festival has also succeeded in giving new lease of life to some of the art forms.

This year, the festival will be organised on the Gangadhar Meher College ground. Earlier, the festival used to be organised at Gangadhar Mandap. A food fair — Swaad Sambalpur — will also be organised during the cultural fest for the first time this year.

“The objective behind the food fair is to promote traditional Odia cuisine. Thousands of people throng the festival. Swaad Sambalpur will provide them with the opportunity to taste their favourite dishes. Twenty-eight kiosks will be set up in the food fair. People will also be able to taste Rajsthani, Gujarati, Punjabi and Bengali dishes.

“Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav is an amazing conglomeration of traditions and art. Every year, artists of national and local cultural teams come here to perform in the festival,” said city resident Lopamudra Satpathy.