A Window To Odia Culture In Mumbai

Mumbai/Bhubaneswar: Mumbai got a taste of Odia culture at the two-day cultural Mahakumbh, ‘Ama Utkarsha Odisha’ which concluded at the Cidco Ground, Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

The mega event featured the art, culture, culinary delights, artistic apparels, fabrics and textiles of Odisha. It was organsied by the Maharashtra Odia Welfare Association.

“Odias are unique for their language, culture, attire and delicacies. It is a matter of pride that the Odias residing in Mumbai have congregated to explore that unique cultural identity through this ‘Mahakumbh’,” said Governor of Jharkhand Droupadi Murmu while inaugurating the event.

President of Maharashtra Odia Welfare Association, Bhagaban Panda congratulated all Odia associations and community members for such a grand conclave of ideas and inspiration.

To mark the occasion, four stalwarts were honoured with the ‘Pride of Odisha’ Award. Among them are Rangabati exponent Jitendra Haripal, film personality Shisir Mishra, Nalco CMD Dr Tapan Chand and NRO industrialist Sanjay Das.
A two minutes silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of Pulwama attack.

Shishir Mishra’s ‘Surya Mandir’ on Black Pagoda Konark, Sibu Prusty’s award winning movie ‘Lord of the Universe’; ’Kotpad Weaving’  by Biswanath Rath;  ‘Seba Bou’ by Subhash Sahoo and ‘Krantidhara’ by Himanshu Khatua were shown on the inaugural day.

Sankirtan, Ghumura of Kalahandi, paired conch or ‘Jodi Shankha’ of Ganjam, sand art, classical Odissi dance, Ranapa dance, ’Thia Puchi Naranga’ and Sambalpuri folk dance were the leading attractions. Around 150 cultural artists from Odisha were invited to perform at the event. A ballet on ‘The Great Paika Rebellion’ was also staged on the inaugural day.