State-Level Pala and Daskathia Festival Kicks Off at Bhanja Kala Mandap in Bhubaneswar

The inaugural evening featured Smt. Devjani Bhuyan, Deputy Director of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, as the chief guest. In her address, Smt. Bhuyan highlighted the rich history of Pala and Daskathia, emphasising their significant role in contemporary times. She described these traditional art forms as an inseparable part of Odia culture and identity.

The opening ceremony showcased captivating performances by talented artists from various districts. From Puri district, Lambodar Behera and his team presented Pala, while Dandapani Barik and team from Khordha district, Santosh Kumar Pattnaik and team from Cuttack district, Prasanna Kumar Pattnaik and team along with Gauribala Swain and team from Jagatsinghpur district also delivered enthralling Pala renditions. Additionally, Sudhakar Balakrishna Mishra and his team from Ganjam district performed Daskathia.

Prominent attendees included Madan Mohan Jena, President of Nilachala Nikhil Utkal Pala Gayak Parishad, Odisha; Basant Kumar Raut, General Secretary of the same organisation; and Yudhisthir Parida, Chairman of the State Pala Gayak Parishad Trust Board (Kalyan Panthi).

The festival aims to preserve and promote these indigenous performing arts, drawing enthusiasts and artists from across the state to celebrate Odisha’s vibrant cultural heritage.