New Delhi: More than 90 folk artists from Odisha’s Ganjam district visited Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday and interacted with President Droupadi Murmu, in a special recognition of the district’s rich folk, tribal art and cultural traditions.
Led by Ganjam District Collector V Keerthi Vasan, the team comprised artists from five prominent cultural troupes of the district. The artists were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The visit followed President Murmu’s recent tour of Ganjam, where tribal and folk dance troupes from the district performed traditional dance and music at Taptapani during a cultural programme organised by the district administration. Impressed by the performances, the President had invited the artists to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Responding to the invitation, artists from the Maa Dandakali Group of Subarnagad in Sanakhemundi Block, Sanrachana Group of Berhampur, Tulasi Group of Sorada Block, Gouranga Basudev Nama Sankirtan Mandali of Katapalli in Sanakhemundi Block and Saura Traditional Cultural Natya Sangha of Khemundikhole travelled to the national capital.
During the interaction, Murmu enquired about the well-being and experiences of the artists and emphasised the need for collective efforts to preserve, practise and promote the invaluable art and cultural traditions inherited from previous generations.
She advised the young artists to pursue their studies sincerely and strive for excellence in their chosen fields. The President also encouraged them to become self-reliant, stand on their own feet and bring greater recognition and honour to their parents and families.
The President particularly appreciated the rich cultural traditions of the Saura tribal community of Ganjam.
For the visiting artists, the interaction with the President and the opportunity to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan became a memorable experience. The delegation spent more than half an hour interacting with the President and also visited historical and tourist attractions in New Delhi.
The artists expressed gratitude to the Ganjam district administration for facilitating the visit. Jagannath Nayak of the Saura Traditional Cultural Natya Sangha described the experience as a memorable chapter of his life.