The Mondei Festival and the Pallishree Mela began here on a colourful note on Monday after an inaugural puja was performed at Maa Bhandara Gharani, the presiding deity of Nabarangpur district.
The rituals were performed at 3 pm at the temple to obtain the divine ordain (Agyanmala) of the deity.
later, locals, dressed in tribal dance attires and Kalasha on shoulders, moved in a grand procession from the temple to the festival venue.
The procession passed through the main thoroughfares of the town and reached near the festival podium at the Police ground. Students from various schools, colleges and members of various
outfits participated in the
procession.