A week-long Mahanagar Mahotsav which reached its 6th day on Thursday has been a big draw here.
Dignitaries who attended the fest on Wednesday include State Civil Supply and Cooperation Minister Surjya Narayan Patro, State Planning Board member and senior BJD leader Rama Chandra Panda, Berhampur University Vice Chancellor Prof Rajendra Prasad Das, Deputy Secretary CHSE Dr Kulamani Ojha and former MLA Udayanath Nayak.
Panda in his address hailed the efforts of the organisers saying that the event would help preserve the rich and age old cultural heritage of the region which so far has established a separate identity in the country.
The very purpose of the Mahotsav is to display the socio-cultural diversity and rich traditions of the region, the speakers pointed out.
Some prominent persons like diabetes surgeon Dr Sunil Kota, Gosaninuagaon Police Station IIC Kulamani Sethi, Sudhir Rout, Gurukul International Chairman Prasant Mahapatra and social worker Ujala Padhi were felicitated. Several cultural shows were presented.