CHHATRAPUR, April 10, 2026 (Report- Ramakrushna Pani): The Ganjam district administration organized a special cultural event today to celebrate the occasion of "Odia Paksha." The authorities dedicated this entire day to the promotion and preservation of local folk art. They hosted the main program at the District Culture Bhavan in Chhatrapur. The organizers designed the event to honor traditional artists and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region. 
Ganjam Celebrates Odia Paksha: Honoring Traditional Folk Artists


The Morning Cultural Rally

The day began with a colorful and vibrant cultural rally in the morning. District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan and the Chief Development Officer of the Zilla Parishad, Samir Kumar Jena, officially inaugurated the procession. Hundreds of enthusiastic participants joined the march. The grand rally started from the District Collector's office. Participants walked through the streets to promote the ancient folk art and traditional music of the Ganjam district. Finally, the lively procession reached its destination at the District Culture Bhavan in Chhatrapur.

Seminar and the Core Message

After the rally concluded, the organizers hosted a detailed seminar on folk art. Additional District Magistrate Sunil Kumar Kerketta attended the seminar as the chief guest. He delivered a very inspiring speech to the audience. He proudly stated that people everywhere know about the beautiful folk art, folk music, and folk culture of Ganjam.
He explained that this rich cultural background gives the district a very special and unique identity in the state. Furthermore, he shared a strong message about the future of these traditions. He told the gathered crowd that society must train and encourage the younger generation to protect and continue these ancient art forms. 
Ganjam Celebrates Odia Paksha: Honoring Traditional Folk Artists


Honoring the Master Artists

During the event, the administration felicitated several senior artists for their lifetime contributions to traditional arts. The officials proudly honored the following local masters:
  • Syamasundar Panigrahi for his dedication to Ramalila.
  • Balakrishna Nayak for his excellent skills as a Pala singer.
  • Subhas Chandra Choudhury for his performances in Gahana.
  • G. Haribandhu for his lifelong work in Krishnalila.
  • Banchanidhi Jena for preserving the Pashumukha (animal mask) dance.
  • Bibhatsa Swain for mastering Suta Kandhei (string puppetry).
  • Rabinarayan Satapathy and Balakrishna Mishra for their talents in Daskathia. 
  • Brundaban Jena and Janardhan Pradhan for their roles in Prahlad Natak. 
  • Surendra Sahu for his contributions to Bharat Lila.

Key Attendees

Many important local officials attended the grand celebration to show their support. Additional Sub-Collector Partha Sarathi Hansdah and Beguniapada Block Development Officer Sunil Samantaray joined the program. District Culture Officer Aditi Acharya, District Information and Public Relations Officer Sourav Pradhan, and District Tourism Officer Janak Tarai also participated in the event.
Santosh Kumar Padhi, the Vice-President of the District Art and Culture Association, attended alongside many senior artists and government staff members. Maheshwar Barad, Vice-President of the Beguniapada Art and Culture Association, successfully coordinated the entire program from start to finish.