The yearly grand festival of Sri Guru Anant Ashram Jatiya Sarbodaya Samiti was celebrated with great fervour and gaiety at its State head office at Banasing, 22 km from Dhenkanal town.
On the occasion, more than 10,000 devotees from hundreds of branch ashrams in the State took part.
On February 6, the devotees organized a grand spiritual procession through the nearby villages against untouchablity and intoxication.
A coloured flag was hoisted followed by Brahma Jagnya. On the occasion, Chakradhar Sandha was the chief priest and Sukanta Naik, Kamakhya Prasad Hota, Dandadhar Dehury, Udhhab Sahu and Chhayakanta Padhan helped him.
A general body meeting followed by election for State Committee was conducted by the State advisor Er Debashisha Hota. Ramachandra Maharana of Balugan Ashram was elected State president, Dr Maheswar Swain State working president, Basant Mallick, Gopal Chandra Swain, Nilamani Behera, Chandramani Barik and Suresh Chandra Sahoo were vice presidents, Kalandi Charan Behera State Secretary, Ashok Majhi, Prakash Mallick, Lokanath Mallick, Nirmal Mallick and Bijay Mallick became State joint secretaries and Satya Prakash Jena, State treasurer.
Lipun Mishra, Gouranga Behera, Gagan Mallick, Sanatan Sahoo and Maheswar Pothal were elected State joint treasurers and Ranjan Kumar Lenka, Ajaya Sahoo, Bahuda Behera, Murali Naik, Gajendra Parida and Pranabandhu Nayak, State executive members.
The atmosphere became spiritual due to Guru Nam and Bhajan Kirtan the whole night. Bhuinpur Mangala Sahi, Sabar Sahi (Durga), Sabar Sahi (B), Sankarpur, Jhilli, Balugan and Pasi-Banasing Kirtan Mandalis participated in the spiritual event.
Govind Chandra Mallick spoke about the ethics of Jiva-Parma Tattwa. It’s here noteworthy that, Sadguru Satyabadi Satapathy of Banasing inspired by Sarbodaya movement of Gandhiji had popularised Anakhyara Matabada cult all over the State having 75,000 disciples with 220 ashrams.