The Samikhsya Bureau
NEW DELHI: Celebrating Odisha, the two-day Odisha Parba would be hosted by the New Delhi Odia Samaj on march 27 and 28.
In view of the prevailing pandemic, the festival would go virtual this year.
The grand festival aims at highlighting Odisha’s art, culture, heritage and tradition.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is scheduled to inaugurate the event on Saturday evening.
Among others, noted sculptor and MP Raghunath Mahapatra, with Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty – an Odia – will be the other guests for the inaugural ceremony.
Sidhartha Pradhan, President of the Odia Samaj will also be present.
The inaugural evening will have group Odissi dance presentation of ‘Bande Utkal Janani’, a welcome performance by the city-based Madhumita Rout’s troupe.
The festival will further feature Jodi Sankha, animal mask dance, Ranapa dance, Malakhamba, Bonda tribal dance and martial arts.
Several eminent Odia personalities like Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, former Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University who is also a historic personality for Odissi dance and sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo have been invited to share the stories of their journey of life with the virtual audience.
To commemorate the Paika Bidroha, a contemporary dance recorded by the Moksha Dance Group of Cuttack at the foothills of the historical Barunei hill will be premiered.
The festival will also present popular singers Tansen Singh, Tapu Mishra, Diptirekha, Sohini Mishra, Swayam Padhi, Tariq Aziz and Ashutosh among others.
Details of the virtual festival are available on on http://www.odishaparba.live since 7 pm on Saturday.
