Rajgangpur, Dec, 24: The 16th edition of the Jharajhara Festival, organized at the local football ground, has been inaugurated. Former state minister and Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasan Nayak attended as the chief guest to inaugurate the festival. Other honored guests included local Tahsildar Jagabandhu Mallik and Rajgangpur Municipality Executive Officer Govinda Dandasena. The guests lit the ceremonial lamp in front of the deity Lord Jagannath to mark the beginning of the festival.
Paika Dance Was the Main Attraction
The festival began with a performance of Odissi dance by the ‘Bulani’ group of Nirmala English School students. Students from Aravind School performed the ‘Utkal Janani’ song. Performances included Mayur dance from the Kala Mandir of Cuttack, Rajasthani dance, Haryana dance, and Kalinga Paika dance from Khordha, which captivated the audience.
On this occasion, three individuals were honored by the chief guest: national hockey player Namita Taspo, former teacher Dr. Sarojini Sahu, and former teacher Sanjita Mahapatra.
Another special attraction was the performance by Sambalpur Comedy King Jogesh Jojo and his group, which entertained a large audience. Various stalls showcasing household items were also set up, giving visitors an opportunity to purchase items.
The festival program was organized by Festival President Anand Agrawal, General Editor Ashok Kumar Das, Executive President Ashfaq Ahmad, Vice President Ramesh Agrawal, Cultural Editor Rajendra Kumar Behera, and several committee members.