The typical Odia festival Raja Mahotsav was organised with much pomp and grandeur at Gurugram, New Delhi, during June 16 and 17 by the Kalinga Bharati Foundation.
The event was inaugurated by chief guest and noted social activist Mridula Thakur Pradhan. Joining as the guest of honour Additional DG-cum-Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayat, Raj Sanjeeb Patajoshi eulogised the role of Kalinga Bharati Foundation in organising programmes like Shaheedon Ko Salaam,Prabashi Odia Utsav,Paik Rebellion and Netaji Subhas Bose Jayanti in Odisha and outside Odisha.
Nearly 30 Prabasi Odia organisations functioning at New Delhi NCR, mostly from Gurugram, together with Odia employees, students and members and associates of all Jagannath Temples in New Delhi had joined the gala event.
On the concluding day, former MP Baijayant Panda graced the occasion as chief guest while former Haryana Sports and Agriculture Minister Sumhibir Kataria joined as guest of honour. Baijayant gave a call to the assembled Odias for building up of a new and vibrant Odisha.
Former director of Haryana Kala Parishad and a distinguished social activist Ajaya Singhal adorning the fest as speaker praised the endeavour of Kalinga Bharati Foundation and its team.
Kalinga Bharati Foundation founder Er. Akshay Samal delivering his welcome address on both the days described the achievements over the last five years and announced the foundation’s mission for uniting nearly 10 lakh of Prabasi Odias inhibiting in New Delhi NCR and Gurugram.
Talented Odia students securing above 90 per cent of marks at CBSE and ICSE identified by Anusandhan were felicitated.
Two wonder Odia kids namely, Sai Anish Pattnaik from Koraput and Biswajit Arukh were awarded by the chief guest. More than 25 Odia stalls offering exclusive Odia cuisines along with home-made foods had joined the fray.
Various Rajotsav events, including ‘muruj’, jhoti ,Odiani Bou competitions and Raja jhula lent the occasion with enough mirth and jubilation.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Guruma Dr Arundhati Debi and Minaketan Samal of Rastriya Odia Parivar, Srimant Kumar Biswal, Sundhansu Padhy, Bijay Mishra, Sanjay Kumar Das, Sangram Panigrahi, Neeraj Sahoo, Susanta Sahu, Ranjan Sahu, Pradipta Sethy, Salil Das, lipi, Babita Mishra, Jajati and Ashok Patra etc.