Nabarangpur: BASANT RATH, Reporter.
The Mondei
festival and Pallishree mela began here on Friday. The inaugural puja was performed at Maa Bhandara Gharani the presiding deity of this district. The rituals were
performed at the temple to obtain the divine ordain
(Agyanmala) of the deity.
Chief guest SC
and ST development minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Chairperson of district
planning committee and local MLA Manahar Randhari, Chairperson of tribal
development council Motiram Nayak, Chairperson of Odisha film development
corporation Muna Khan, Dabugam MLA Bhujabala Majhi, Umerkote MLA Subash Gond,
Chairperson of Nabarangpur municipality, Basanti Soura, chairperson of Umerkote
municipality Pinki Agrawal, Collector Rashmita Panda, present at inaugural puja
and procession.
The colourful
carnival procession moved to Mahatma Gandhi Marga, passed through the main road thoroughfares of
the town and
reached near the festival podium at Police ground. Besides the
traditional folk dance troupes’ students from various schools, colleges and members of various outfits participated in the procession.
The Mondei carnival reached Mondei Rangamanch in the evening. The symbolic Mondei Mahotshav Bima, Bhimani, were
installed near the Mondei ground. Later Palishree Mela was inaugurated by the
Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion Minister Ramesh
Chandra Majhi, said through Mondei, the district showcases the hidden talent and
also reaches out to the people to create awareness about the different government
schemes. It is an opportunity for the cottage and rural industries to display
their products at a Handicrafts exhibition, Majhi said.
Chairperson of district planning
committee and local MLA Manahar Randhari, spoke different developmental steps
of state government to improve health, education, transportation facility of
this district.
Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, concern
over the centers delay in Rail project and by-pass road of the town, he criticised
the center’s attitude towards this backward district.
Presiding the meeting collector and
chairperson of district council of culture Rashmita Panda, said that ‘Mondei’ festival strives to
proclaim the rich heritage of art, culture and tradition of Nabarangpur
district.
As many as eight cultural troups performed their dances in day one.Some
of the attractions of the festival were Nepal folk dance, Chau, Gotipua Bihu
and Sambalpuri dances forms. As many as 15 cultural troupes including tribal
troupes were performed their dances.
District Supply and Marketing Society (DSMS) is organising the five- day
Pallishree Mela on the sidelines of the festival. This year, 200 stalls selling
household articles, forest produce and food products have been set up at the
mela.
