Utkala’s Rath Yatra & Odisha Festival To Be Inaugurated With Festivity
The celebration of the Ratha Yatra and the Odisha Festival will take place from June 20 to June 28 as revealed by Utkala, the cultural arm of the Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti.
The festivities will begin on June 20 with a vibrant procession (Rath Yatra) from Khidirpur Jagannath Temple to Bhawanipur’s Northern Park, where the deities will remain until June 28’s morning. Purulia Chhau dance troupe and Shri Khola Team will perform at the roadshow, which is supported by the Govt of West Bengal as well as the I&B Department, Govt of India.
The Odisha Festival will be inaugurated on 21st June 2023 by the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal Sri C V Anand Bose.
Several performances will take place during the festival’s eight days. Visitors will also be able to see some of the handicrafts from Odisha that will be on show.
The prestigious Utkala Samman award, given annually since 2003 to individuals who have made significant contributions to art and culture, will this year be given to acclaimed vocalist Mr. Debashis Mohapatra, a well-known Odia singer. He will perform with other well-known performers as well.
The book “Jagannath in Bengal Eyes” by Utkala Souvenir & Album on JHUMAR will be unveiled. In the eight days of the ODISHA Festival, project Chhauni from Mayurbhanj will perform Chhou Dance, and Sri Subhash Patra & Troupe from Rairangpur will perform Jhumur songs.
A classical dance program by Navajibannatya Sastra sponsored by the Govt Of Odisha will take place. Smt Meera Das & Troupe will also perform a dance program along with the Bhajan Sandhya program by Artists of OAK.
On 25th June apart from the Indian classical Dance competition among school children from different schools of the city, eminent Bhajan Singer / Bollywood singer Sadhana Sargam and her Team will perform a Bhajan Sandya on the 25th evening. A traditional Khiri-Pitha competition will be held on this day.
The Closing ceremony on 27th June 2023 will begin with the introduction of prize winners followed by dance performances by the prize winners.
Priyanka Dutta