Nabarangpur, Dec, 23: On the second day of the folk festival Mandai and Pallishree Mela, the stage came alive with vibrant cultural programmes and orchestra performances. The second day of the Mandai festival began with a welcome song. The festival, being held under the patronage of District Collector Dr. Maheshwar Swain, witnessed enthusiastic participation and a rich display of local culture.
Attending the second day of the Mandai Mahotsav as the Chief Guest, Southern Revenue Commissioner Sangram Keshari Mahapatra said that in all the books he has read so far, the art and culture of Koraput and Nabarangpur districts have been prominently described. After personally attending the Mandai festival, he stated that Nabarangpur is a district rich in art, culture, folk art, folk dances, and traditional music.
On this occasion, former Nabarangpur District Collector and Executive Director of the State Disaster Management Authority, Dr. Komal Lochan Mishra, attended as a distinguished guest and described Nabarangpur as a land of artists and a hub of art and culture.
Another distinguished guest, Nabarangpur District and Sessions Judge Subrat Mahanti, said in his address that many people from Nabarangpur district have sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence. He emphasized that Nabarangpur is a district renowned for its art, culture, folk dances, and folk traditions.
Other dignitaries present included CRPF Commandant N. K. K. Prasad, Additional District Magistrate (General) Tapan Kumar Khuntia, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Biswajit Chandra Barman, District Panchayat Chief Development Officer Biranchi Narayan Darwan, and Sub-Collector Prakash Kumar Mishra, among others.
After the conclusion of the formal session in the evening, the chief guest and other dignitaries were felicitated with Mandai souvenir plaques. This was followed by a series of colorful cultural performances. The programme began with an Odissi dance presented by Jagannath Kala Kendra, Nabarangpur, followed by Santali dance from Jharkhand, a dance performance by Nabarangpur Municipality, Ghumura dance from Nuapada, a performance by Umerkote Municipality, Durua dance from Kotpad, Shinga Baja dance from Papadahandi, and Kutia Kandha dance from Rayagada.
After the completion of these folk dance performances, a melodious musical programme featuring Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Nistha Sharma and her team was held.
During the district-level Mandai Folk Festival and Pallishree Mela 2025, a total of 400 stalls of various categories were set up. Among others present on the second day were District Education Officer Chhatrapati Sahu, District Social Security Officer Sudhanshu Patra, District Information and Public Relations Officer Manoj Kumar Behera, Nabarangpur Tahsildar Kush Garada, District Culture Officer Ghasia Harijan, Nabarangpur Model Police Station Officer Sambit Kumar Behera, Emergency Department Section Officer Tripati Balaji Sahu, and Programme Officer Himanshu Shekhar Pattnaik, along with many other district-level officers and staff.
A large deployment of police personnel was made to manage the heavy crowd at the Mandai ground and on the roads leading from the town to the festival venue, ensuring smooth conduct of the event.