Mondei-2014, a three-day cultural festival of Nabarangpur district, began here on Wednesday amidst much fervour and gaiety.
local dance troupes and people undertook a colourful procession from the Maa Bhandargharni temple to the Mondei ground to mark beginning of the festival. The procession saw tribal villagers playing varieties of tribal music and various tribal fancy shows along the way.
Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Kumar Panda, Housing and Urban Development Minister Puspendra Singhdeo, Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, local MP Balabhadra Majhi, MlA Monohar Randhari, Dabugam MlA Bhujabala Majhi, Umerkote MlA Subash Gond, Tourism and Culture Secretary Dr Arabinda Padhee, Nabarangpur Municipal Chairperson Basanti Soura, district Collector Md Sadique Alam and ASP Pinak Mishra graced the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Singhdeo hoped that the festival would be a grand success as people from various walks of life would enjoy exhibition, workshops and tribal dance and music performances during the three days.
Minister Panda expressed his happiness over the presence of a huge crowd. “The Mondei has succeeded in integrating people. I have never seen such a huge procession in which men and women participate with enthusiasm,” he said.
Tourism and Culture Secretary Padhee, in his address, said the very ethos behind Mondei is to afford a scope for every hidden talent to bloom unhindered. “Mondei creates a platform for cultural exchange and has become a people’s festival,” he said.
Collector Sadique Alam said Mondei strives to proclaim the rich heritage of art, culture and tradition of Nabarangpur district. “Showcasing varieties of classical art forms of different parts of Odisha and other States, Mondei not only enriches the local heritage but also attempts to build Nabarangpur into a strong and prosperous district through love and brotherhood,” Alam observed.
On the occasion, Natyakar Bhubaneswar Dolai was felicitated with the Mondei Samman .