New Delhi/ Bhubaneswar, Mar 16: The three-day cultural festival Odisha Parba 2026, celebrating the rich heritage, traditions and artistic legacy of Odisha, concluded successfully on Sunday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, drawing a massive crowd of cultural enthusiasts in the national capital New Delhi.
The ninth edition of the festival witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Odia community as well as people from diverse backgrounds, reaffirming Odisha Parba’s growing stature as one of the prominent cultural celebrations in the capital.
According to organisers, the three-day event recorded an unprecedented footfall of nearly 1.7 lakh visitors. Artisans, food vendors and exhibitors also reported brisk business, reflecting strong public interest in Odisha’s traditional crafts, cuisine and cultural heritage.
The concluding day of the festival was attended by Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Odisha, who graced the occasion as the chief guest. Kapil Mishra, Delhi’s Minister for Tourism, Law and Justice, attended the event as the guest of honour.
“I am glad to participate in Odisha Parba. It is heartening to witness the vibrant spirit of the Odia community in the national capital celebrating Odisha’s rich culture, timeless traditions and proud heritage. I appreciate the Odia Samaj for organising this wonderful festival that beautifully showcases Odisha’s cultural legacy and strengthens our collective bonds,” said Kambhampati.
On the second day, Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, visited the festival and interacted with members of the Odia community. She praised the efforts to preserve and promote Odisha’s cultural heritage in Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, Gupta said the festival reflects how deeply the Odia community remains connected to its roots and traditions even while living away from their home state.
The festival was inaugurated on Friday in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, along with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Delhi Minister Ashish Sood, and several other dignitaries.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Pradhan said Odisha Parba has evolved into an important platform for showcasing the state’s culture, traditions and artistic excellence in the national capital.
During the three-day celebration, visitors witnessed vibrant performances of traditional Odia dance and music, which drew large crowds every evening. Exhibitions of Odisha’s renowned handloom and handicrafts, including Pattachitra art and silver filigree work, also attracted significant attention.
A major highlight of this year’s edition was Pratibha Utsava, a talent hunt platform for emerging artists. For the first time since the festival’s inception, a dedicated talent search programme was organised where students from Odisha participated in dance and artistic performances, both solo and group, offering young talents an opportunity to perform on a national stage.
Alongside the cultural programmes, the festival hosted a series of seminars under the theme “Talk Today, Transform Tomorrow,” bringing together policymakers, thought leaders and experts to discuss Odisha’s development journey and vision for a progressive and self-reliant future.
Food lovers also enjoyed an authentic culinary experience at the festival’s food court, which served iconic Odia dishes such as Cuttack Dahibara Aloodum and Jagannath Mahaprasad. The exhibition pavilion further showcased Odisha’s traditional crafts, textiles and artistic heritage.
“Odisha Parba has become a powerful platform to showcase Odisha’s culture, traditions and progress in the national capital. Over the years, the festival has played a key role in strengthening the identity and visibility of Odisha among people across India,” said Siddhartha Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj of New Delhi.
Organised by the Odia Samaj of New Delhi, Odisha Parba 2026 once again demonstrated how cultural celebrations can bring communities together, promote traditional arts and crafts, and strengthen bonds across regions.
As the festival concluded on a high note, organisers expressed gratitude to visitors, artists, artisans, volunteers and dignitaries who contributed to making the event a grand success.
