Nabarangpur, Dec, 15: The Nabarangpur District Folk Festival Mandai–2025 was inaugurated on Friday evening with great enthusiasm. In the afternoon, a grand Mandai procession along with a torch rally was taken out from the local Maa Bhandar Gharani Temple. Accompanied by traditional folk musical instruments and folk dances, the procession reached the Mandai ground, where the Mandai festival and the Swadeshi Mela were formally inaugurated by the distinguished guests.
The cultural inaugural ceremony was held under the chairmanship of the District Collector and President of the District Cultural Council, Dr. Maheshwar Swain. The chief guest was the Minister of School & Mass Education and Scheduled Tribe & Scheduled Caste Development, Shri Nityananda Gond, who stated that tribal culture and traditions are unique in the world and that the heritage and art of this region have no equal. He said that festivals like Mandai contribute significantly to district development and help preserve and uphold the pride of our art and culture in every field.
He further recalled that the heroic contributions of this region during India’s freedom struggle are unforgettable. In the coming days, the stories of freedom fighters and martyrs from the district will be included in textbooks, enabling future generations to learn about their bravery, which would be the greatest tribute to them.
Rajya Sabha MP Shri Muna Khan, as a distinguished guest, highlighted the immense talent, dedication, and commitment to the soil shown by many renowned and legendary artists born in this district.
Among the honored guests were Dabugam MLA Manohar Randhari, Nabarangpur MLA Gouri Shankar Majhi, and Jharigam MLA Narsingh Bhatra, who collectively expressed that with cooperation from all, the district can progress while preserving its culture and traditions. They appealed to everyone, irrespective of political affiliations, to actively participate in the development of the district.
Other dignitaries present on the dais included Municipal Chairperson Kunu Nayak, Additional District Magistrate (General) Tapan Khuntia, and Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Biswajit Barman.
The cultural evening featured a vibrant lineup of performances, including Odissi dance by artists from Bhubaneswar, Gondi dance from Raighar, Lavani from Maharashtra, Ghumura from Chandahandi, Dalkhai from Bargarh, Gothi Baja from Umerkote, Singari from Bhawanipatna, Ranapa from Ganjam, and finally a melodious performance by Bhubaneswar-based Ollywood singer Nabya Jayati along with her team.