New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Mar 14: Delhi witnessed a vibrant beginning of Odisha Parba 2026, which started yesterday with much fanfare. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest, while Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Delhi Government Education Minister Ashish Sood were present as guests of honour.
The three-day festival already started yesterday with a lively blend of folk dances, tribal performances, and contemporary music, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of Odisha. Traditional art forms such as Bagha Nacha, Ghoda Nacha, Ranapa, and tribal dances like Kedu and Durua were scheduled to be presented on a single stage over the next two days. Renowned Odia singers and dancers enthralled audiences with evening performances, turning Delhi’s atmosphere festive and colourful.
Visitors relished authentic Odia cuisine, ranging from traditional sweets and pithas to popular delicacies such as Cuttack’s dahibara aloo dum and Baripada’s mudhi mansa. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes were available across the food stalls. Alongside food, the festival also featured Odisha’s famed handicrafts and handlooms, including Kendujhar’s avhanga kandhei, Puri’s pattachitra, Koraput’s Kotpad sarees, and Sambalpuri textiles.
The organisers emphasised that the festival aimed to provide a platform for Odias living outside the state to reconnect with their roots, while introducing Odisha’s cultural diversity to people across India. With cultural programmes, exhibitions, and food fairs, Odisha Parba 2026 proved to be a unique confluence of tradition and modernity.
Day 1 - Friday, 13th March 2026began with a formal inaugural programme from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by stage clearance and setup. At 7:10 PM, Padma Shri Aruna Mohanty’s Orissa Dance Academy performed an enchanting Odissi dance recital, “Gatha Odisha.” This was followed by “Lok Kala O Lok Jeevan”, a Sambalpuri Nrutya Natika celebrating the rich folk heritage of Western Odisha, from 7:40 PM to 8:00 PM. “Adima Dhara- The Tribal Journey of Odisha”, a showcase of indigenous tribal dance traditions, performed from 8:00 PM to 8:20 PM. The day concluded with “Paschim Odisha Sur Sandhya,” a live Sambalpuri musical night by Umakant Barik and Saswat Tripathy, from 8:20 PM to 9:30 PM.
Cultural Programme Highlights:
Day 2 – Saturday, 14th March 2026:
7:10–7:40 PM: Odissi dance “Dharm Chakra Ashoka” by Kabita Mohanty & Troupe.
7:40–8:00 PM: “Bighnabinashak Leela”, Indian folk dance invoking Lord Ganesha.
8:00–8:20 PM: “Dhwani: Swarara Odisha”, instrumental music celebrating Odisha’s traditions.
8:20–9:30 PM: “Sur Sangam”, live musical performance by Satyajeet Pradhan & Lipsa Mohapatra.
Day 3 – Sunday, 15th March 2026:
7:10–7:40 PM: “Ananta Naadara Amara Pratidhwani”, tribute to 150 years of Vande Mataram (Fusion Odissi & freestyle dance).
7:40–8:10 PM: “Gitara Yugayatra”, Ollywood dance tribute to iconic Odia film songs.
8:10–8:20 PM: “Pancharasi”, folk art and music celebration of Western Odisha.
8:20–8:40 PM: “Parampara Prabaha – The Living Threads of Odisha”, showcasing tribal legacy, handlooms, and handicrafts.
8:40–9:30 PM: “Pratibha Utsav – Celebration of Talents”, grand finale featuring Odisha Got Talent winners.
