The first street festival 'Saheed lakshman Nayak Patha Utsav' got off to a roaring start here on Sunday.
The event had special programmes for children and old persons, apart from cultural shows, music and yoga. Senior citizens were seen playing Bati, tug of war and practicing yoga, recalling their old days.
Chief organsier Sub Collector Chakaravati Singh Rathore said Raahgiri Jeypore is not only an entertainment extravaganza, but a show of the spirit of Jeypore. He thanked all the denizens of Jeypore for making the event a successful one.
Rathore informed, "We have undertaken a number of social causes like health check up, cloth donation, Swachha Jeypore and blood camp where hundreds of denizens gathered."
With an aim to promote non-motorised transport, cyclists and pedestrians had all the fun on the stretch between Soura Street and Ram Bankomatho, the venue of the event. Thousands of people right from toddlers to senior citizens thronged the venue early in the morning to have a gala time in the open street that was bereft of vehicular traffic for four hours between 7 am and 10 am.
While Collector Anupam Saha graced the occasion as chief guest, he said the Patha Utsav is a part of district's cultural festival Parab and the administration has tried its best to promote the hidden talents. He thanked the entire public for making it a grand success. Among others, MP Koraput Jhina Hikaka, MlA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, MlA Kotpad Chandra Sekhar Majhi, former Minister Rabinarayan Nanda, DCO Akhaya Kumar Sethy and DIPRO Jagarnath Prasat Raiguru were present.
The programme started with lightening lamps and praying near the idol of lord Jagannath after which a number of events starting from brass music playing Vande Utakala Janani to Odishi dance, tribal dance, folk dance, fusion dance, flute and many more were held.
The safe surrounding of the festival gave the children quality time with people as they got an opportunity to showcase their talents. Many children were seen playing the Guitar, doing mono action and playing different games. Women too were seen participating in Mehendi and Rangoli events.
Apart from the skating, walking and recreational events such as group dances, physical fitness exercises, rally on Uthisthita Jagrata, a mission to discover the old custom and tradition, were seen. The Jeypore Muncipality put up Swachha Bharat Mission to make the citizens aware about maintaining hygiene.
Musical groups Meera Dance Group, Prerna Group, Jeypore Kala Kendra and NDA were huge crowd pullers. Performances of different groups enthralled the audience.
A total of 130 units of blood collected at a camp which was organised by Koraput and Jeypore blood banks at the Vikram Dev boys hostel.