Papdahandi,29th July 2025: A meeting of the Bande Utkal Folk Art and Culture Association was held on Sunday at the premises of Sri Aurobindo Integrated Education Centre in Papdahandi, Nabarangpur district.
The meeting was presided over by Jagannath Behera, President of the South Odisha Chapter. Among the dignitaries present were Shibashankar Tripathy, Nabarangpur District President, and Srinibas Patra, District Vice President.
During the meeting, a block-level committee of the association was constituted for Papdahandi block. The following were selected to key positions:
- Tapan Kumar Rath as Block President
- Gouranga Charan Padhi as Secretary
- Narayan Chandra Guru and Mitrabhanu Satanami as Advisors
It was emphasized that the association will work toward the holistic development and recognition of hidden talents among:
Folk artists, singers, writers, poets, painters, sculptors, terracotta and lacquer craftsmen, musicians, dramatists, Doordarshan actors, and other cultural artisans living in the block.
Speaking on the occasion, Behera informed that the aim is to bring folk arts into public view and empower local talents. Newly elected President Rath stated that in the coming days, the association will be strengthened by involving all artists of the block and will expand its activities accordingly.
The meeting was well-coordinated by Shyam Sundar Ningee, with a vote of thanks presented by Dillip Swain.
Prominent attendees included Sharata Chandra Majhi, Trinath Dhakad, and Manoj Agrawal along with other association members.