Ratha Yatra Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti cultural wing 'Utkala' to host Odisha Festival
Kolkata/IBNS: Utkala, the cultural wing of Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti, has announced the celebration of Ratha Yatra and Odisha Festival from June 20-28.
The celebrations will start from tomorrow with a colorful road show (Rath Yatra) from Khidirpur Jagannath Temple to Northern Park, Bhawanipur where the deities will stay till the morning of June 28.
The roadshow will have performances by Purulia Chhau dance troupe and Shri Khola Team sponsored by West Bengal Government and I&B Dept.
Announcing the Odisha Festival, Chandra Sekhar Panigrahi, President, Jagannath Seva Samiti said, “The Odisha Festival will be inaugurated on 21st June 2023 by Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal Sri C V Anand Bose. A number of performances will take place in the eight-day festival. Visitors will also be able to have glimpses of Odisha handicrafts that will be on display on the occasion.”
Utkala Samman conferred every year since 2003 on personalities with outstanding contributions to art and culture will be conferred this year to renowned singer Debashis Mohapatra, prominent Odia singer.
He will also perform along with other well known artists .
Elaborating further, Shri Kasinath Behera (Retired IAS), President, Utkala Samiti The book 'Jagannath in Bengal Eyes' Utkala Souvenir & Album on JHUMAR will be unveiled.
In the eight days of the festival, project Chhauni from Mayurbhanj will perform Chhou Dance and Sri Subhash Patra & Troupe from Rairangpur will perform Jhumur songs.
Besides, a classical dance programme by Navajiban natya Sastra sponsored by Govt Of Odisha will take place. Meera Das & Troupe will also perform a dance programme along with Bhajan Sandhya programme by Artists of OAK.
On June 25, apart from Indian classical dance competition among school children from different schools of the city, eminent bhajan singer/bollywood singer Sadhana Sargam and her team will perform a Bhajan Sandya in the evening. A traditional Khiri-Pitha competition will be held on this day.
Speaking about the festival, Ashim Kumar Bose, Councillor of Northern Park, Bhawanipore said, “I am extremely elated that this year Odisha Festival is happening in our locality. On the day of Rath Yatra Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Suvadra are coming to stay for 9 days at Northern Park. After the Rath Yatra we are planning to build a temple in our area.
"By God's grace I am glad that the temple will be built. We tried to start the work last year. But as it is said, you can’t go and seek blessings from God until he calls you. And finally, I feel Almighty has agreed to come this year. This is a big blessing for the people of this ward and I want everyone to seek blessings from prabhu from the bottom of their heart.”
The closing ceremony will be held on June 27 with prize distribution followed by dance performances by the prize winners.
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