The two-day Dhimsa festival, the most popular dance of southern Odisha districts like erstwhile Koraput, was organsied here at Utkal Alumina International ltd (UAIl) at the UAIl sports ground at Nuapada on Friday and Saturday last week.
Dhimasa is now being promoted by the MNC conglomerate UAIl, a wholly owned subsidiary of HINDAlCO Aditya Birla Group of Companies situated at Doraguda, Tikiri of Kashipur block, 70 km from the Rayagada district headquarters.Dhimsa is generally observed by the whole community— both young and old, men, women and children during the month of “Chaitra”-March/April to commemorate the cohesiveness of adivasis of a particular village and the villages around.
As a part of UAIl’s CSR initiative, a competition too was organsied on the occasion to encourage, promote and preserve the unique tribal art and culture.The grand fete nomenclature as “Ama Nrutya Ama Sanskruti—Our Dance Our Culture” also synthesised Dhimsa with other cultural fiesta from other parts of Odisha such as Odissi dance by danseuse Saswati Sahu and Diptesh Satpathy, “Paiko” dance by Malla Khamba group from Puri, Prince dance group from Brahmapur, Ghumura Folk Dance from Bhawanipatna.Five finalists Dhimsa dancer troupes from the peripheral tribal villages were felicitated on Saturday.
While Champadara Dhimsa team bagged the first prize followed by Kuguput, Kodipari, Makapadar and Naktiguda villages.Each member of the team was felicitated by the company with cash prize and mementoes.Along with them, the teams from Bagrijhola, K Karol, ladiguda, Naringjodi, Peringini, Gokulamunda, Kucheipadar, lachuguda, Tharli, A Karol, Tikiri, Bilamal, Haridaspur, Jamuguda, K Siriguda, Kaliakana and Gaimundatunda villages performed their dances.
The entire process was the brain child of UAIl senior vice president (HR-Admn-CSR) M Ramesh Kumar and his team while the festival was inaugurated by UAIl CEO and MD Rajesh Jha.