Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming annual cultural festival Mondei-2013 in Nabarangpur which will kick off from December 4.
Despite suggestions from different quarters to cancel the Mondei cultural programmes this year in view of the last month’s twin natural calamities that hit 18 districts of the State, the district administration has decided to go ahead with the event as per the schedule.
“It was unanimously decided by the District Council of Culture Committee to go ahead with the block-level tribal cultural fest as per the programme,” said district Collector and Chairperson of the council Yamini Sarangi.
Keeping in view the rich tradition of ‘Mondei’, which is symbolic of self-esteem, cultural heritage and emotional impulses of the district, and the scope and ambience it offers to the hundreds of artisans, traders, artistes and others to showcase their hidden potential and do a brisk business, it has been decided to organise the festival in a more elevated and attractive way than the previous year, she said.
The fest will kick off at Raja Chauria temple under Kosagumuda block from December 4 and will continue till December 9. The three-day main festival will begin from December 11.
One of the major attractions will be the five-day-long Palishree Mela (craft fair), in which hundreds of artisans, self-help groups and artistes from different districts will take part.
Also various competitions like drawing, creative writing, antakshari, git kudia, poem recital, healthy baby, open quiz, drama fest will be organized this year, said District Culture Officer and DIPRO Bhujang Bhusan Rao.