The Mondei festival and PallishreeMela kick-started at Nabarangpur on Saturday. The inaugural puja was performed at MaaBhandaraGharani, the presiding deity of the tribal district.
Later, the PurnaKumbha and pious water from the deity was brought in a procession to the Mondei ground at Hirli Danger where the three-day festival has begun.
As many as 300 stalls and a Meena Bazar were arranged for the entertainment of the people. The PallishreeMela will continue till December 14. More than 15,000 people assembled to witness the Mondei and its cultural programme.
Law, SC and ST Development Minister JagannathSaraka chaired the inauguration event. MP Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Rajya Sabha MP MujibullhaAhmmed Khan, advisor SDC Odisha Pradeep Majhi, Nabarangpur Planning Board Chairman and Dabugaon MLA MonoharRandhari, Nabarangpur MLA SadasivPradhani, Umerkote MLA Nityanada Gond, Jharigaon MLA Prakash Majhi, ZillhaParisad Chairperson MotiramNayak and Mondei Organising Committee Chairman and Collector Kamal Lochan Mishra were present. "Mondei festival is an occasion to promote hidden talent and cottage industry of the locality," Saraka said, adding that the annual event gives opportunities for mingling of town and village cultures.
Presiding over the meeting, Collector Mishra said the festival strives to preserve the rich heritage of the district's art, culture and tradition. As many as nine cultural troupes performed on the first day. Besides, DesiaNato will be performed every day.
