Mega Convention To Promote Jagannath Culture In Balasore From Dec 25

A billboard announcing the upcoming convention on Jagannath culture in Balasore. Photograph: Odishabytes

Balasore: Aimed at promoting Jagannath culture, the 36^th Biswa Jagannath Chetana Mahaadhibesan will be held here on December 25, the event organisers said on Wednesday. It will be the second time Balasore will play host to the convention.

“We will organize this convention at Balasore for the second time to educate the public to know about the rich Jagannath culture. We will also showcase 32 different beshas (customes) and 56 varieties of byanjajan (food) related to Puri’s Jagannath Temple during the seven-day event,” said chief mentor of Puri-based Biswa Jagannath Chetana Sansad Surya Narayan Rathsharma.

Several saints and religious gurus will lecture about Jagannath culture and stalls will be set up. “We will launch a Rathyatra campaign in Balasore, and neighboring Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts to attract people to the event. We expect over 20,000 people to  throng the venue (ITI Field),” said the programme’s convener and Balsore MP Rabindra Kumar Jena. “In 2011, we had successfully organized this convention for the first time in Balasore,” he added.