The second Bilasuni Mahotsav was held at the picturesque village of Bilasuni in Niali block of Cuttack district with much pomp, splendour and fanfare. The three-day sports, spiritual and cultural carnival was witnessed by a mammoth crowd of 10,000 local residents. Hosted by Social Development Council, Bilasuni (SDCB), an offshoot organisation of Voluntary Empowerment Development Association (VEDA), the mega event was a massive success.

The SDCB has been actively engaged in the overall enhancement of quality in education, healthcare, sports, culture and religious activities in Bilasuni under the active stewardship of its president Dr Badri Narayan Mahapatra. The main highlight of the second edition of Mahotsav was the two-day-long Sanskruti Sansad consisting of religious discourse delivered by eminent spiritual preacher Pandit Kashinath Mishra.

Pandit Shri Mishra was accompanied on stage by the chief priest of Mahalakshmi Temple in Puri Laxmidhar Khuntia. The Sanskruti Sansad also featured a soul soothing Bhajan Samaroha. Renowned devotional singers Subas Das, Anusuya Nath, Rabindra Mohapatra and Sailabhama Mohapatra enthralled the audiences with their scintillating presentations.

Attending the closing session of the fest as chief guest, Minister of State for Sports, Youth Affairs, IT, Electronics and Home Tusharkanti Behera lauded the noble efforts of SDCB, in organising such a grand festival at village level to promote sports culture among rural youths.

Veteran filmmaker and MP Prashanta Nanda complimented VEDA for its series of pioneering endeavours to make Bilasuni an ideal and smart village. Director of Sovaniya Andolan Dr Arundhati Debi observed that cultural fairs like Bilasuni Mahotsav play a vital role in spreading the message of unity, goodwill and brotherhood among the local population.