The ninth edition of Odisha Parba, a three-day cultural festival celebrating the rich heritage, traditions and artistic legacy of Odisha, concluded successfully at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, drawing large crowds and strong participation from cultural enthusiasts across the capital.
Organised by the Odia Samaj of New Delhi, the festival recorded an unprecedented footfall of around 1.7 lakh visitors over three days. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Odia community as well as people from diverse backgrounds, highlighting Odisha Parba’s growing prominence as a cultural celebration in the national capital. Artisans, food vendors and exhibitors also reported strong business, reflecting public interest in Odisha’s traditional crafts, cuisine and cultural offerings.
The third and concluding day of the festival was attended by Hari Babu Kambhampati as the chief guest, while Kapil Mishra attended as the guest of honour.
Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Odisha, said, “I am glad to participate in Odisha Parba. It is heartening to witness the vibrant spirit of the Odia community in the national capital, celebrating Odisha’s rich culture, timeless traditions and proud heritage. I appreciate the Odia Samaj for organising this wonderful festival that beautifully showcases Odisha’s cultural legacy and strengthens our collective bonds.”
The second day of the festival saw the presence of Rekha Gupta, who interacted with members of the Odia community and appreciated the efforts made to preserve and promote Odisha’s cultural heritage in Delhi. She noted that Odisha Parba reflects how strongly the Odia community remains connected to its roots and traditions even while living away from their home state.
The festival was inaugurated earlier in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashish Sood and several other distinguished guests. During the inaugural ceremony, Dharmendra Pradhan emphasised that Odisha Parba has evolved into an important platform for showcasing Odisha’s culture, traditions and artistic excellence in the national capital.
Throughout the three-day festival, visitors enjoyed vibrant performances of traditional Odia dance and music. The event also featured exhibitions of Odisha’s renowned handloom and handicrafts, including Pattachitra art and silver filigree, along with a variety of traditional cuisine that attracted enthusiastic visitors.
A major highlight of this year’s edition was ‘Pratibha Utsava’, a talent hunt platform for emerging artists. For the first time since the festival’s inception, a dedicated talent search session was organised where students from Odisha participated in cultural dance and artistic performances, both solo and group, offering young artists an opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.
The festival also hosted a series of seminars under the theme “Talk Today, Transform Tomorrow,” bringing together thought leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss Odisha’s development journey and its vision for a self-reliant and progressive future.
Visitors also enjoyed an authentic culinary experience at the festival’s food court featuring iconic Odia dishes such as Kataka Dahibara and Jagannath Mahaprasad, while the exhibition pavilion showcased Odisha’s traditional crafts, textiles and artistic heritage.
Siddharth Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj, said, “Odisha Parba has become a powerful platform to showcase Odisha’s culture, traditions and progress in the national capital. Over the years the festival has played a key role in strengthening the identity and visibility of Odisha among people across India.”
As the festival concluded on a high note, organisers expressed gratitude to visitors, artists, artisans, volunteers and dignitaries who contributed to making the event a grand success.
