The Keonjhar district administration is all set to host the Kedujhar Mahotsav, 2015 from April 1 to 5 at Kalipadia where thousands of people are expected to turn out. The main aim is to promote art, culture and rural artisans of the district. Art and craft from all 30 districts and eight States like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajastan , Haryana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be exhibited in a mega Pallishree Mela to be organised on the occasion. Apart from the fair, local artists and cultural troops from different districts will perform colorful cultural programmes on traditional dance forms.
As per the programme schedule, the audience will witness Jodi Sankha, Ranapa dance from Ganjam, Odissi from Bhubaneswar and Gotipua from Khurda on the first day while New Prince Dance Group, Khurda and Paika Akhada of Khurda will be performing besides, Ghoda dance of Cuttack, Sambalpuri dance from Sambalpur on the second day. Gumura of Kalahandi and Chhau of Baripada will be performed on April 3, while Ghata dance of Jagatsingpur, Gotipua of Puri will be performed on April 4. Sambalpuri dance of Sambalpur besides a cultural programme by Jagannath Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Puri will be performed on April 5.
Various delicious local recipes and cakes are expected to attract visitors at a food festival to be organized on the occasion. Since the district level festival is being organized after a long gap of 5 years, it has brought excitement among local citizens. Many Ollywood celebrities, State Ministers, local MlAs and dignitaries are expected to grace the function every evening. Collector Bishnu Sahoo, SP Kavita Jalan, DRDA PD Biranchi Narayan Mohanty, ADM SK Swain, DIPRO Sanjeev Barik and other district officials are coordinating the festival.