3-Day State-Level Folk Dance & Music Festival in Bhubaneswar From Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: Continuing its effort to infuse life into dying folk dance and folk music, the department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture will organise a three-day state-level ‘Lokanruyta and Lokasangeet Mahotsav’ at Utkal Mandap in Bhubaneswar. The festival will kick-start on April 2 and conclude on April 4.

Addressing a presser at Panthnivas here on Saturday, Director of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Ranjan Kumar Das said that varied forms of folk art, music, dance that enrich our life are cultural identity of ancient tradition of Odisha.

“However, trends of modernity have been adversely affecting the folk arts, music and dance forms. Over years, they are gradually vanishing from scene,” he said.

Das further stated that keeping this in mind, the state government has been organising the festival since 2011 with direction from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

However, the state level festival could not be held due to Covid pandemic.

He added that 30 cultural troupes from each district will showcase their folk art culture at the three-day cultural extavanganza. Over 300 folk artists will take part in the festival. The event will start at 6 pm.

On April 2, a rally of folk artists will be taken out up to Utkal Mandap at noon.