Nabarangpur, Dec, 13: The Nabarangpur district is vibrant with excitement for the grand festival Mandei 2025, celebrating the district’s art, literature, culture, heritage, and fraternity. The district folk festival Mandei 2025 will begin today. This folk festival will be held from December 12, 13, and 14 at Hirli in the Agnipura Panchayat. Along with cultural programmes, the Pallishree Mela will be held from December 12 to 16.
On the first day, the inaugural ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Commerce & Transport, Steel & Mines, Shri Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, as the chief guest; and as the distinguished guest, the Cabinet Minister of School & Mass Education, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Shri Nityananda Gond.
Also present will be Nabarangpur Lok Sabha MP Sri Balabhadra Majhi, Rajya Sabha MP Rajmiluchula Khan, Nabarangpur MLA Gauri Shankar Majhi, Dabugaon MLA Manohar Randhari, Jharigaon MLA Narasingha Bhatra, and Nabarangpur Zilla Parishad Chairperson Moti Ram Nayak.
On the second day, the Chief Guest will be Shri Sangram Keshari Mahapatra, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (IAS). The distinguished guests will include the Executive Director of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (IAS) Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, Nabarangpur District & Sessions Judge (OJS) Sri Subrata Mohanty, Nabarangpur SP Md. Sandeep Sampat, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Biswajit Chandra Barman, Additional District Magistrate (General) Tapan Kumar Khuntia, Chief Development & Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad Biranchi Narayan Darowan, and Deputy Collector Prakash Kumar Mishra.
On the third and concluding day, the Chief Guest will be Odisha Government Minister of Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water & Rural Development Shri Ravi Narayan Nayak. The distinguished guest will again be Cabinet Minister Shri Nityananda Gond. Also present will be Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, Rajya Sabha MP Mizubula Khan, Nabarangpur MLA Gauri Shankar Majhi, Dabugaon MLA Manohar Randhari, Jharigaon MLA Narasingha Bhatra, and Zilla Parishad Chairperson Moti Ram Nayak.
A total of 400 stalls have been set up at the Mandei grounds this year—90 departmental stalls, 150 Pallishree Mela stalls, 110 commercial stalls, and 50 miscellaneous stalls.
The programme is being organized under the